← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

Attributes of an object

One fact that describes an object, such as a pet's name, colour or age. Each attribute holds a single piece of information.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Structured Data and Queries — Module 2

Understanding Attributes of an object in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

What it does: Colour and size are stored apart, each with its own single value. This shows one fact per attribute. Not every fact about a pet is needed. The list keeps only the attributes useful for the purpose. An attribute holds a single piece of information, like a pet's age. Keeping facts separate makes data easy to use. Number of gears is a fact that describes the bike. Riding to school is an event or action, not a fact about the bike. Choose attributes that are useful for the job. A pet shop needs the pet's age, but lunch has nothing to do with the pet.

Common mistakes: An attribute holds only one fact. 'age: 4 and likes fish' mixes two facts. It should be 'age: 4', with the food as its own attribute. A phone does not have wheels, so this attribute does not describe the object. It should be a phone attribute such as 'storage: 128 GB'.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

🖨 Print worksheet + answer key Add Attributes of an object to a class →

This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 331–360) and word search (Modules 331–411).

Take this worksheet further — free with Cloodit

Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning
Duo
Which one is an attribute of a pet?
Feed the petColour: brown
Matches
Bike: colour and size = Red 26
↓
Two facts are squashed into one attribute. Colour and size should be separate attributes, each with one value.
Applying
Meanings
Term
attribute
Meaning
One fact that describes an object, such as a pet's name, colour or age. Each attribute holds a single piece of information.
Practice
Object: Pet
Testing
Gaps
: colour = "grey"
Check Answer
Spots
3colour: brown
4age: 4 and likes fish

Cloodit turns curriculum-aligned coding content into journeys students work through one biome at a time.

The 'Ostrich' badge — Full Sprint, one of Cloodit's 106 collectible badges
Students earn collectable badges

Over 100 of them, across seven natural biomes.

Study Buddy
Students build a real study resource

Turns their work into revision material ready for Flash Cards and Exam study.

Diamond Dash — one of Cloodit's live, competitive Sprint games
Students lock in with Sprints

Live, competitive practice for the start of the lesson or a teacher-led lesson finisher.

A Cloodit certificate of achievement, ready to personalise and print
Custom printable certificates

Honour your top performers, or encourage a student who's trying hard — ready to print in seconds.

Add to class →

Quick Questions

1. Which one is an attribute of a pet?
A. Colour: brown ✓
B. Feed the pet
An attribute is a fact that describes an object. 'Colour: brown' is a fact about the pet. 'Feed the pet' is an action, not a fact.
2. Which one is an attribute of a phone?
A. Make a call
B. Screen size: 6.1 inches ✓
Screen size is a fact that describes the phone. Making a call is something you do with it, so it is not an attribute.
3. Which statement is correct?
A. Each attribute holds one fact ✓
B. Each attribute holds many facts mixed together
An attribute holds a single piece of information, like a pet's age. Keeping facts separate makes data easy to use.
4. A bike is described as 'Red, 21 gears, 26 inch wheels'. What is the better way to record this?
A. One attribute that holds all three facts
B. Three attributes: colour, gears, wheel size ✓
Each fact gets its own attribute. Colour, number of gears and wheel size are three separate facts about the bike.
5. Which one is an attribute of a bike?
A. Number of gears ✓
B. Ride to school
Number of gears is a fact that describes the bike. Riding to school is an event or action, not a fact about the bike.

Match the Pairs

Pet: name, colour, age → Lists three attributes that describe a pet
Phone: brand, model, storage → Lists three attributes that describe a phone
Each attribute holds only one fact, so a bike's colour and size are kept as two separate attributes → Bike: colour = Red, size = 26
Choose only the attributes that matter for the job, such as a pet's name and age for a vet check-in list → Pet: name, age
Bike: colour and size = Red 26 → Two facts are squashed into one attribute. Colour and size should be separate attributes, each with one value.
Pet: name = Max, Buddy, Rex → One attribute holds several values. The pet's name should be a single fact, and the other names do not describe the same pet.

Key Term

attribute
One fact that describes an object, such as a pet's name, colour or age. Each attribute holds a single piece of information.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Object: Pet Attribute: name = "Milo" Attribute: colour = "grey"
Hint: Type the word for one fact that describes an object.
2. Object: Bike Attribute: colour = "red" Attribute: wheels = 2
Hint: Type the word for the thing being described.
3. Object: Bike Attribute: colour = "red" Attribute: wheels = 2
Hint: Type the number of wheels a normal bike has.
4. Object: Pet Attribute: name = "Milo" Attribute: colour = "grey"
Hint: Type the attribute name that the value grey describes.
5. Object: Phone Attribute: brand = "Samsung" Attribute: storage = 128
Hint: Type the attribute name for the company that made the phone.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Object: Pet
B name: Bella
C colour: brown
D age: 4 and likes fish
Line D — An attribute holds only one fact. 'age: 4 and likes fish' mixes two facts. It should be 'age: 4', with the food as its own attribute.
Question 2
A Object: Phone
B brand: Apple
C colour: black
D wheels: 2
Line D — A phone does not have wheels, so this attribute does not describe the object. It should be a phone attribute such as 'storage: 128 GB'.
Question 3
A Object: Bike
B brand: Giant
C colour: red, size: large
D wheels: 2
Line C — Each attribute is one fact on its own line. This line packs two attributes (colour and size) together. It should be 'colour: red'.
Question 4
A Object: Pet
B name: Milo
C age: brown
D colour: black
Line C — The value must match the attribute. 'brown' is a colour, not an age. It should be a number such as 'age: 3'.
Question 5
A Goal: sell bikes online
B Object: Bike
C owner's lunch: pizza
D size: medium
Line C — Choose attributes that matter for the goal. A bike buyer does not need the owner's lunch. It should be a useful attribute such as 'price: $450'.

Student with a class code? Join your class →