COBOL is a high-level language. One must understand the way COBOL
works. Computers only understand machine code, a binary stream of 0s and
1s. COBOL code must be converted into machine code using a compiler.
Run the program source through a compiler. The compiler first checks for any syntax errors and then converts it into machine language. The compiler creates a output file which is known as load module. This output file contains executable code in the form of 0s and 1s.
Run the program source through a compiler. The compiler first checks for any syntax errors and then converts it into machine language. The compiler creates a output file which is known as load module. This output file contains executable code in the form of 0s and 1s.
Evolution of COBOL
During 1950s, when the businesses were growing in the western part of the world, there was a need to automate various processes for ease of operation and this gave birth to a high-level programming language meant for business data processing.- In 1959, COBOL was developed by CODASYL (Conference on Data Systems Language).
- The next version, COBOL-61, was released in 1961 with some revisions.
- In 1968, COBOL was approved by ANSI as a standard language for commercial use (COBOL-68).
- It was again revised in 1974 and 1985 to develop subsequent versions named COBOL-74 and COBOL-85 respectively.
- In 2002, Object-Oriented COBOL was released, which could use encapsulated objects as a normal part of COBOL programming.
Importance of COBOL
- COBOL was the first widely used high-level programming language. It is an English-like language which is user friendly. All the instructions can be coded in simple English words.
- COBOL is also used as a self-documenting language.
- COBOL can handle huge data processing.
- COBOL is compatible with its previous versions.
- COBOL has effective error messages and so, resolution of bugs is easier.
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