Procedural Programming Definition
Procedural Programming is a programming paradigm, grounded in the concept of the procedure call. It refers to a detailed sequence of operations outlined to solve a specific task. Procedural Programming relies on a linear approach, with organized sets of procedures, which are often performed in a particular order.
Procedural Programming Key Points
- Proposes a linear and structured approach to programming
- Based on the concept of the procedure call or routine
- Focuses on performing sequences of actions in order
- Program state is kept track through global variables
What is Procedural Programming?
Procedural Programming is one of the various ways in which a person can direct a computer to execute commands and parse data. It’s grounded in the idea of writing a list of instructions to tell the computer what to do step by step and it’s primarily concerned with the detailed procedures or routines that manipulate the data.
Why is Procedural Programming Used?
Procedural programming is used because of its practical and structured nature. It allows for programs to be straightforward and easy-to-understand, since actions are performed in a linear sequence. This method of programming reduces the difficulties that might come with complex programming since the code is easily separable and debuggable due to its structured approach.
Where is Procedural Programming Used?
Procedural Programming is profoundly used in numerous languages including C, Fortran and COBOL. It’s often used in applications that require precise steps and that can be easily implemented using sequential control flow. This includes automation scripts, data processing, and more.
When is Procedural Programming Used?
Procedural Programming is used when a problem can be broken down into simple procedures or functions. These functions are then called in a certain order to solve the problem. It’s especially useful for simple and clearly defined tasks where the sequence of commands can be easily defined.
How Does Procedural Programming Work?
Procedural Programming operates by executing a sequence of procedures or steps. A procedure contains a series of computational steps to be executed. The program is executed by calling procedures in the correct order. Control of the program is passed to the procedure, the procedure is executed and then control returns to the main program. This sequence of execution is controlled by a mechanism called a procedure call stack.