APIs and Function Parameters UNIT 3 – LESSON 7 APIs and Function Parameters

Vocabulary alert! API - application programming interface - a collection of commands made available to a programmer Documentation - a description of the behavior of a command, function, library, API, etc. Hexadecimal - A base-16 number system that uses sixteen distinct symbols 0-9 and A-F to represent numbers from 0 to 15. Library - a collection of commands / functions, typically with a shared purpose Parameter - An extra piece of information passed to a function to customize it for a specific need

The purpose of today’s lesson: all programming languages has an application programming interface (API), which is a reference guide for programmers create functions with parameters, which is special info for special programming tasks you will learn to read the api to find and understand new commands in JavaScript, and add parameters to your functions in your code build some drawing programs using code you haven’t used before

New code to use!

programmers don’t memorize all of the commands in a programming language. This is why we have api’S – a library of code to look at and learn from. Becoming a good programmer is much less about memorizing a language and more about learning habits of mind and patterns that allow you to use a language (including its documentation) effectively!

Example of API for code example of parameters – what goes in the parentheses, so this one is number of pixels

Example of parameters in use

today, I want you to read through the documentation while doing your projects. This skill will make you much more confident programmers. The difference between a good programmer and a great programmer is that a great programmer is not afraid to test, read, and try stuff out.

Let’s open up code studio . . . Remember – read the api you will check in: 1. bullseye 2. smiley face 3. your own picture (using at least 3 colors and the move to command)

You have homework! Fill in reflections and assessments make sure your code studio is clean and green!