Glossary
Every technical word the course uses, in one sentence and then in full. Inside a lesson the first mention of any of these links here, and you can double-click a word anywhere in the course to see what it means without leaving the page.
A
- Android Studio Google's workbench for building and testing Android apps, used to create the file you upload to the Play Store.
- API A menu of requests your app can make to another service, and the shape of the replies it will get back.
- API key Like a stamped pass at a gate, an API key is a secret your app shows so a service knows the request is from you.
- Astro A website builder that lets you ship a fast marketing site with mostly plain files.
- authentication Proof that a person is who they say they are before your app lets them in.
B
- backend The behind-the-counter part of your app that handles data, accounts, and rules.
- branch A safe copy of your code where you can make changes without touching the main line.
- build The process that turns your project files into an app you can run or ship.
- bundle Like a packed lunch in one bag, a bundle is your app’s files zipped together so a phone or store can install or load them.
C
- cache A small stash of saved results your app keeps so it does not ask again.
- code review A second set of eyes checks your changes before they become part of the app.
- CodeRabbit An automated reviewer that comments on your pull requests and suggests fixes.
- coding agent Like a helpful coworker who writes drafts, it turns your instructions into code, proposes fixes, and explains changes.
- column A labeled slot in a table that holds one kind of detail, such as email or price.
- command line A text window where you type commands instead of clicking buttons, used to run tools and scripts for your project.
- commit A saved snapshot of your project with a short message, so you can track changes and go back if needed.
- component A reusable building block for a screen, such as a button or header, defined once and used many times.
- container A sealed package of code and its dependencies so it runs the same everywhere, often used for back-end jobs.
- context window The amount of text an AI can read at once, which limits how much of your files and instructions it considers.
- crash reporting A service that collects app crashes and error details so you can see what broke and fix it.
D
- database A structured place to store and query your app’s data, like users, purchases, and settings.
- deployment The act of taking code that works on your machine and making it run for real where users can reach it.
- DNS Like a phone book for the internet, DNS turns a name you buy into the numeric address of the computer that serves your site.
- domain Like renting a street address on the web, a domain is the name people type to reach your site or API.
E
- endpoint A specific web address where an app sends a request to get or change data.
- entitlement Proof on your server that a user has paid access to a feature, such as a subscription.
- environment variable A named setting the computer reads from outside your code, often used for secrets and app settings.
- Expo A toolkit that helps you build, preview, and ship React Native apps without managing all the plumbing yourself.
F
G
H
I
J
L
M
N
O
P
- package manager Like a supply clerk who fetches and tracks parts, it installs the code libraries your project depends on and keeps versions organized.
- Postgres Like a very organized spreadsheet that never forgets, it is the database where your app stores and finds structured data.
- prompt Like giving a chef a clear recipe card, it is the instructions you type to tell the AI exactly what you want.
- pull request Like slipping a draft to your team for sign-off, a pull request asks to add your changes into the main code.
Q
R
- rate limit Like a turnstile that lets people through at a steady pace, it caps how many requests your app can make to a service in a given time.
- React Native Like building two houses with the same floor plan, it lets one codebase create apps for both iOS and Android.
- repository Like the main project folder everyone shares, it holds all the files and history for your app’s code on a service like GitHub.
- Resend Like a reliable mailroom for your app, it sends emails such as sign-in links, receipts, and alerts through an easy web service.
- row Like one filled-out line in a paper form, it is a single record in a database table.
- Row Level Security Like locked drawers in a shared cabinet, each row in a database can be read or changed only by people who pass its rules.
S
- schema Like a floor plan for a warehouse, it says what shelves exist, what fits where, and how pieces relate.
- SDK Like a starter toolkit with pre-cut parts, it gives ready-made code pieces to talk to a service.
- server Like a kitchen in a restaurant, it does the work out of sight and sends finished plates back to the table.
- session Like a library checkout slip, it marks who you are and how long you stay signed in.
- simulator Like a pretend phone on your desk, it shows how the app will behave without needing a real device.
- state Like notes on a whiteboard, it is what is true right now and drives what the screen shows.
- Stripe Like a card terminal for the internet, it handles payments and subscriptions so you do not touch raw card data.
- subscription Like a magazine delivery, it charges on a schedule until you cancel.
- Supabase Like a hosted toolbox with a database and sign-in, it gives your app a safe place to store and fetch data.
T
- table Like a sheet in a spreadsheet, it holds rows of similar things with the same columns.
- terminal Like a text-only remote control, it lets you run commands on your computer by typing.
- TestFlight A waiting room for your iPhone app, where invited testers try it before the public sees it.
- token Like a wristband that proves you passed the gate, a token is a short-lived proof that a user or app may do something.
- transactional email One-to-one messages like receipts and password resets that a system sends because something happened.