Book 3 · Chapter 7: Coding Without Coding

Twenty terms you'll meet in error messages and docs. One line each, so jargon is never a wall.

HTML

The skeleton of a web page. Defines what exists (headings, buttons, text, images) without saying how it looks or behaves.

CSS

The clothing and makeup for HTML. Defines colors, fonts, spacing, and layout.

JavaScript

The brain. Makes things happen when you interact: calculations run, content updates, animations play, forms validate.

API

A menu that lets two programs order from each other.

JSON

A way to organize data that computers love. Like a filing system with labeled folders inside labeled folders.

Variable

A labeled box that holds a value.

Function

A named recipe: a set of steps that runs whenever the code says to run it.

Loop

"Do this thing 50 times" or "do this for every item in the list."

Conditional

An if/then rule. The building blocks of all logic.

Array

A numbered list. Code accesses items by their position: item 1, item 2, item 3.

String

Text. Any sequence of characters inside quotes.

Integer

A whole number without decimals. 42, 100, 1000000.

Boolean

True or false. That's it. The simplest type of data.

DOM

The live version of your HTML that the browser maintains. When JavaScript "updates the page," it's changing the DOM.

Event

Something that happened. A click, a keypress, a page load, a scroll. JavaScript listens for events and responds to them.

Responsive

Looks good on all screen sizes. A responsive design rearranges itself for phones, tablets, and desktops.

Framework

A pre-built toolkit that handles common tasks. React, Vue, and Svelte are JavaScript frameworks.

Library

A collection of pre-written code that does one thing well. A charting library draws graphs. A date library handles time zones.

Sandbox

An isolated environment where code runs without affecting anything else.

Localhost

Your own computer acting as a temporary server.