2.2 Programming Fundamentals

In this module, you will learn the fundamental concepts and techniques used to create computer programs. You will explore how programs store and process data, make decisions, repeat instructions, organise code, and work with different forms of data using OCR Exam Reference Language and Python. You will begin with core programming concepts, including variables, constants, assignment, inputs, outputs, and operators, before exploring the three basic programming constructs of sequence, selection, and iteration.

Next, you will learn about data types and casting, string manipulation, file handling, SQL, and one-dimensional and two-dimensional arrays. You will see how these features allow programs to represent, manipulate, store, and retrieve different types of data. Finally, you will explore subprograms, including procedures, functions, parameters, arguments, and local and global scope, before learning how random numbers can be generated and used within programs.