Master common IT prefixes: pre- (predeploy, preprocessing), re- (refactor, rebase, rollback), de- (decouple, deprecate, decommission), over- (override, overload), under- (underscale).
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A pipeline runs data cleaning steps before the main ML model training. These steps are collectively described as ___________.
The prefix 'pre-' means 'before'. Preprocessing refers to data transformations applied before the main processing step (e.g., normalisation, tokenisation, feature engineering before model training). The 'pre-' pattern is highly productive in IT: pre-deploy (before deployment), pre-commit (before a git commit), pre-launch (before go-live), pre-warm (warming a cache before traffic arrives).
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A developer improves the internal structure of existing code without changing its external behaviour — no new features, no bug fixes. This activity is called ___________.
Refactoring uses the prefix 're-' (again/anew) + 'factor' (restructure into components). Martin Fowler defined it as 'a disciplined technique for restructuring an existing body of code, altering its internal structure without changing its external behaviour.' Other 're-' IT terms: rebase (reapply commits onto a new base), rollback (return to a previous state), redeploy (deploy again), rebuild (build again from scratch).
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A software team decides that an API endpoint will no longer be supported in future versions. They announce it is now ___________, meaning it still works today but will be removed in a future release.
Deprecated (prefix 'de-' meaning 'down/away from') signals that a feature is discouraged and scheduled for removal, but still functional. It is softer than 'decommissioned' (fully removed and shut down). The lifecycle sequence is often: active → deprecated (still works, avoid using) → removed/decommissioned (gone). 'Decoupled' means separated from dependencies — a different concept entirely.
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In object-oriented programming, a subclass provides its own implementation of a method already defined in its parent class. This is called method ___________.
Method overriding uses the prefix 'over-' (above/beyond) — the subclass implementation sits 'over' the parent's version, replacing it in the call chain. Overriding must match the method signature. This differs from overloading (defining multiple methods with the same name but different parameter signatures — a compile-time concept). 'Over-' IT terms: override, overload, overscale, overprovision, overwrite.
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An auto-scaling group fails to add enough instances during a traffic spike. The system runs with too few resources to meet demand. This situation is called ___________.
Underscaling uses the prefix 'under-' (below/less than needed) — the system is scaled below the required capacity. This causes degraded performance or outages under load. The opposite, overscaling (or overprovisioning), means running more resources than needed — wasteful but safe. Other 'under-' IT terms: underutilised (resources running below capacity), underspecified (requirements not detailed enough), underperforming (below expected benchmark).