# Key terms * ALGORITHM: a structured code implementing a method to solve a specific problem. * FUNCTION: a standalone body of code that performs a specific task. Each function has a unique name. To execute a function, you 'call' it by using its name. * MATRIX: the default data type in MATLAB. It is akin to a table or a spreadsheet with rows and columns. * SYNTAX: the 'grammar' of a coding language. It outlines a set of rules which enable the computer to understand the code. * VARIABLE: a container where you store values/data. These values can be changed according to our needs. * VECTOR: a particular type of matrix in MATLAB. This is a list of numbers arranged in either a row or a column. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://meirian.gitbook.io/matlab/resources/glossary.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.