Is Cobol a high level language?
I'll answer
Earn 20 gold coins for an accepted answer.20
Earn 20 gold coins for an accepted answer.
40more
40more
Isabella Carter
Studied at University of Cambridge, Lives in Cambridge, UK
As an expert in the field of computer science and programming languages, I can provide a comprehensive analysis of COBOL and its status as a high-level programming language. COBOL, which stands for Common Business Oriented Language, is indeed considered a high-level language for several reasons. Let's delve into the characteristics that qualify COBOL as such:
1. Abstraction from Hardware: High-level languages provide a level of abstraction from the hardware, allowing programmers to write code without needing to understand the intricate details of the computer's architecture. COBOL does this by offering a set of instructions that are closer to human language, making it easier to read and write.
2. Procedural Programming Paradigm: COBOL is a procedural language, which means it follows a top-down approach where tasks are broken down into a series of steps or procedures. This is a hallmark of high-level languages, as they allow for structured programming that is logical and sequential.
3. Business-Oriented Features: COBOL was specifically designed for business data processing. It includes features that are tailored to the needs of business applications, such as fixed-point arithmetic, which is essential for financial calculations, and a strong set of file handling capabilities that are crucial for managing large volumes of data.
4. Portability: High-level languages are generally more portable than low-level languages because they are not tied to specific hardware architectures. COBOL's design and the standards that have been established for it have facilitated its portability across different systems.
5. Readability and Maintainability: COBOL code is known for its readability. The language uses English-like syntax, which makes it easier for non-programmers to understand. This feature is valuable for business applications where the code may need to be understood by business analysts and managers, not just programmers.
6. Verbosity: COBOL is often criticized for its verbosity, which means it uses more words and characters to express the same concept compared to other languages. However, this verbosity can also be seen as a feature because it makes the code self-documenting, which is beneficial for maintenance and debugging.
7.
Use in Legacy Systems: Despite being an older language, COBOL is still in use today, particularly in legacy systems that power many financial and government operations. The stability and reliability of COBOL make it a trusted choice for these critical applications.
8.
Standardization: COBOL has been standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This standardization ensures that COBOL programs are consistent and can be used across different platforms.
9.
Development Tools and Environments: High-level languages are typically supported by a wide range of development tools and environments that facilitate coding, testing, and debugging. COBOL has a rich ecosystem of tools that have been developed over the years to support its use.
10.
Community and Resources: A strong community and a wealth of resources, including tutorials, documentation, and forums, are available for COBOL programmers. This support network is a sign of a mature and established high-level language.
In conclusion, COBOL is a high-level programming language that has stood the test of time. Its design principles, focus on business applications, and the features that it offers make it a high-level language in the true sense. Despite the advent of newer languages, COBOL continues to be relevant and is used in many critical systems around the world.
1. Abstraction from Hardware: High-level languages provide a level of abstraction from the hardware, allowing programmers to write code without needing to understand the intricate details of the computer's architecture. COBOL does this by offering a set of instructions that are closer to human language, making it easier to read and write.
2. Procedural Programming Paradigm: COBOL is a procedural language, which means it follows a top-down approach where tasks are broken down into a series of steps or procedures. This is a hallmark of high-level languages, as they allow for structured programming that is logical and sequential.
3. Business-Oriented Features: COBOL was specifically designed for business data processing. It includes features that are tailored to the needs of business applications, such as fixed-point arithmetic, which is essential for financial calculations, and a strong set of file handling capabilities that are crucial for managing large volumes of data.
4. Portability: High-level languages are generally more portable than low-level languages because they are not tied to specific hardware architectures. COBOL's design and the standards that have been established for it have facilitated its portability across different systems.
5. Readability and Maintainability: COBOL code is known for its readability. The language uses English-like syntax, which makes it easier for non-programmers to understand. This feature is valuable for business applications where the code may need to be understood by business analysts and managers, not just programmers.
6. Verbosity: COBOL is often criticized for its verbosity, which means it uses more words and characters to express the same concept compared to other languages. However, this verbosity can also be seen as a feature because it makes the code self-documenting, which is beneficial for maintenance and debugging.
7.
Use in Legacy Systems: Despite being an older language, COBOL is still in use today, particularly in legacy systems that power many financial and government operations. The stability and reliability of COBOL make it a trusted choice for these critical applications.
8.
Standardization: COBOL has been standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This standardization ensures that COBOL programs are consistent and can be used across different platforms.
9.
Development Tools and Environments: High-level languages are typically supported by a wide range of development tools and environments that facilitate coding, testing, and debugging. COBOL has a rich ecosystem of tools that have been developed over the years to support its use.
10.
Community and Resources: A strong community and a wealth of resources, including tutorials, documentation, and forums, are available for COBOL programmers. This support network is a sign of a mature and established high-level language.
In conclusion, COBOL is a high-level programming language that has stood the test of time. Its design principles, focus on business applications, and the features that it offers make it a high-level language in the true sense. Despite the advent of newer languages, COBOL continues to be relevant and is used in many critical systems around the world.
Works at the International Renewable Energy Agency, Lives in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Acronym for common business oriented language. Developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, COBOL is the second-oldest high-level programming language (FORTRAN is the oldest). It is particularly popular for business applications that run on large computers.
评论(0)
Helpful(2)
Helpful
Helpful(2)
Zoe White
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
Acronym for common business oriented language. Developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, COBOL is the second-oldest high-level programming language (FORTRAN is the oldest). It is particularly popular for business applications that run on large computers.
