FC0-U71 Software Development Concepts Practice Question
A developer is writing the first version of a program that calculates an employee's weekly pay. Before writing any code, the developer writes a numbered list of steps in plain English: get hours worked, get hourly rate, multiply hours by rate, display the result. Which software development concept does this numbered list represent?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse a written procedure for solving a problem with a programming construct like a variable or a tool like a compiler.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
An algorithm
The plain-English, ordered steps that describe how to compute weekly pay constitute an algorithm, which is a finite sequence of instructions that transforms input into output. Writing the algorithm before coding helps the developer verify the logic and translate it into a programming language later. Compilers translate code, variables store values, and databases store data, so none of those describe the full procedure.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
An algorithm
Why this is correct
An algorithm is a finite, ordered set of steps that solves a problem. The developer's numbered plain-English list of getting hours, getting the rate, multiplying, and displaying the result describes exactly how the pay is computed. Writing this before code clarifies logic and is a fundamental software development concept tested on the exam.
- ✗
A variable
Why it's wrong here
A variable is a named storage location that holds a value which can change during execution. While the pay program would likely use variables for hours and rate, a variable is only one small piece of the design. It does not describe the entire ordered procedure the developer wrote down before coding.
- ✗
A database
Why it's wrong here
A database is an organized collection of data managed by a database management system, used for storing and retrieving records. Nothing in the scenario involves persistent storage, tables, or queries. The developer's plain-English steps describe a computation process, not a data storage structure, so this does not apply.
- ✗
A compiler
Why it's wrong here
A compiler is a program that translates source code written in a high-level language into machine code the CPU can execute. It does not describe the logical steps of a pay calculation in plain English. The developer here has not written any code for a compiler to translate, so this concept does not match the scenario.
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Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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