This is a glossary of LabVIEW terminology.
A
- absolute path
- File or directory path that describes the location relative to the top level of the file system.
- active cell
- Cell of a listbox, table, digital data, or tree control to which you can apply property changes.
- active window
- Window that is currently set to accept user input, usually the frontmost window. The title bar of an active window is highlighted. Make a window active by clicking it or by selecting it from the Windows menu.
- ancestor class
- Any LabVIEW class that is the parent, grandparent, and so on, of another LabVIEW class. The LabVIEW Object may be the ultimate ancestor.
- application
- Application created using the LabVIEW Development System and executed in the LabVIEW Run-Time System environment.
- application instance
- Instance of LabVIEW created for each target you create in a LabVIEW project. When you open a VI from the Project Explorer window, the VI opens in the application instance for the target. There is a separate instance of LabVIEW running for each target you create. LabVIEW also creates a main application instance, which contains open VIs that are not part of a project and VIs that you did not open from a project. See also target.
- Application Programming Interface (API)
- Programming interface for controlling software packages.
- application zone
- Memory allocation section that holds all data in a VI except execution data.
- array
- Ordered, indexed list of data elements of the same type.
- array shell
- Front panel object that houses an array. An array shell consists of an index display, a data object window, and an optional label. It can accept various data types.
- artificial data dependency
- Condition in a dataflow programming language in which the arrival of data, rather than its value, triggers execution of a node.
- asynchronous execution
- Mode in which multiple processes share processor time. For example, one process executes while others wait for interrupts during device I/O or while waiting for a clock tick.
- Auto-indexing
- Capability of loop structures to disassemble and assemble arrays at their borders. As an array enters a loop with auto-indexing enabled, the loop automatically disassembles it extracting scalars from 1D arrays, 1D arrays extracted from 2D arrays, and so on. Loops assemble data values into arrays as data values exit the loop in the reverse order.
- autoscaling
- Ability of scales to adjust to the range of plotted values. On graph scales, autoscaling determines maximum and minimum scale values.
- autosizing
- Automatic resizing of labels to accommodate text you enter.
B
- Block diagram
- Pictorial description or representation of a program or algorithm. The block diagram consists of executable icons called nodes and wires that carry data between the nodes. The block diagram is the source code for the VI. The block diagram resides in the block diagram window of the VI.
- Breakpoint tool
- Tool to set a breakpoint on a VI, node, or wire.
C
- Cluster
- A set of ordered, unindexed data elements of any data type, including numeric, Boolean, string, array, or cluster. The elements must be all controls or all indicators.
D
- Data flow
- Programming system involving the creation of block diagrams having executable nodes connected by wires, where the wires between nodes indicate that data produced by one node is used by another node. Nodes may execute when they have received all necessary input data and may produce output data to other nodes in the diagram. G is a dataflow system.
E
- Error cluster
- Consists of a Boolean status indicator, a numeric code indicator, and a string source indicator.
F
- Formula node
- Node that executes equations you enter as text. Especially useful for lengthy equations too cumbersome to build in block diagram form.
G
- G
- Graphical programming language LabVIEW uses.
H
I
- Icon editor
- Interface similar to that of a graphics program for creating VI icons.
J
K
L
- LabVIEW
- Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench. LabVIEW is a graphical programming language that uses icons instead of lines of text to create programs.
M
N
- NaN
- Digital display value for a floating-point representation of <Not A Number>. Typically the result of an undefined operation, such as log(–1).
O
- Operating tool
- Tool to enter data into controls or to operate them.
P
- polymorphism
- Ability of a node to automatically adjust to data of different representation, type, or structure.
Q
R
- race condition
- Occurs when two or more pieces of code that execute in parallel change the value of the same shared resource, typically a global or local variable.
S
- sequence local
- Terminal to pass data between the frames of a Stacked Sequence structure.
T
- terminal
- Object or region on a node through which data values pass.
U
V
- virtual instrument (VI)
- Program in LabVIEW that models the appearance and function of a physical instrument.
W
- Wiring tool
- Tool to define data paths between terminals.
X
Y
Z
