COBOL, which stands for Common Business Oriented Language, is one of the oldest high-level programming languages designed for business data processing. It was developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, primarily by a committee of computer scientists and industry experts. The original specifications were established in 1959, and COBOL was first implemented in 1960.
- Introduction : COBOL full form
- Features and Structure : : COBOL full form
- COBOL Programming Concepts : COBOL full form
- History : COBOL full form
- Specification : COBOL full form
- Advantages : COBOL full form
- Disadvantage : COBOL full form
- Characteristics : COBOL full form
- Usage : COBOL full form
- Difference Between the COBOL and FORTRAN
- COBOL Data Manipulation
- COBOL File Handling
- COBOL Program Design and Structure
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Introduction : COBOL full form
1. Historical Context
During the late 1950s, there was a pressing need for a standardized programming language that could handle business data processing tasks effectively. At that time, different computer manufacturers had their own proprietary languages, making it difficult to share and exchange programs across different systems. COBOL emerged as a solution to this problem, aiming for portability and ease of use.
2. Advantages and Relevance
COBOL was designed to be a self-documenting, English-like language, making it accessible to non-technical staff and easier to understand for business users. It gained widespread acceptance and became the dominant language for business applications. Even today, despite its age, COBOL continues to be in use and remains an integral part of many legacy systems.
3. Importance of COBOL
COBOL’s importance stems from its historical significance and the vast number of mission-critical applications that were initially written in COBOL. Many essential business systems still rely on COBOL, and its longevity can be attributed to the stability and reliability it offers.
Features and Structure : COBOL full form
| Division | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Data Division | – Data Types (Numeric, Alphabetic, Alphanumeric) |
| – Level Numbers for hierarchy | |
| – Picture Clause for data format | |
| – Occurs Clause for handling arrays | |
| Procedure Division | – Statements for program logic |
| – Paragraphs and Sections for organization | |
| – Conditional Statements (IF, ELSE, EVALUATE) | |
| – Looping (PERFORM, EVALUATE) | |
| Identification Division | – Program ID for unique identification |
| – Author and Installation information | |
| – Date Written | |
| – Remarks (Optional comments and notes) | |
| Environment Division | – Configuration Section (Hardware and software info) |
| – Input-Output Section (File handling and device details) |
COBOL Programming Concepts : COBOL full form
1. Data Types and Data Items
- Numeric: Numeric data types include integers (COMP) and decimals (COMP-3). They are used for and calculations.
- Alphanumeric: Alphanumeric data types (e.g., PIC X(n)) store a combination of alphabetic and numeric characters.
2. Data Records and Files
- Data Records: COBOL structures data in records, which can be further divided into fields (data items). Each field contains a specific type of data.
- Files: COBOL programs work with files, which can be input, output, or both. File handling involves reading from and writing to these files.
3. Conditional Statements
- IF-ELSE: The IF-ELSE statement allows conditional execution based on specified conditions.
- EVALUATE: EVALUATE is a versatile conditional statement, acting as a multi-way decision-making construct.
4. Looping and Iterations
- PERFORM: PERFORM is used for creating loops in COBOL programs. It can iterate a specific number of times or until a condition is met.
- Nested PERFORM: COBOL allows nesting PERFORM statements for complex looping requirements.
History : COBOL full form
Origins (1959): COBOL became developed in reaction to the need for a standardized programming language for enterprise packages. A committee referred to as CODASYL (Conference on Data Systems Languages) was fashioned to create it.
First Implementation (1960): The first model of COBOL became implemented, taking into account less difficult programming of commercial enterprise facts processing responsibilities.
Standardization (1968): The first legitimate COBOL standard became posted via ANSI (American National Standards Institute), setting up a steady model of the language for builders.
Growth and Adoption (1970s): COBOL won vast adoption in numerous industries, specially in banking and government, because of its suitability for dealing with big volumes of records.
New Standards (1985): ANSI published an updated COBOL general, introducing new functions like established programming, which helped modernize the language.
Object-Oriented Extensions (2002): COBOL became up to date once more to include object-oriented capabilities, allowing it to integrate more easily with current programming paradigms.
Continued Relevance (2020s): Despite the upward push of more recent programming languages, COBOL stays in use, specially in legacy systems within economic establishments and government, prompting efforts to keep and replace it.
Specification : COBOL full form
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Common Business-Oriented Language |
| Year Introduced | 1959 |
| Design Purpose | Business data processing |
| Syntax Style | English-like, verbose |
| Data Types | Numeric, Alphanumeric, Decimal, and other custom types |
| Programming Paradigms | Procedural, Structured, Object-oriented (from 2002) |
| Standardization Bodies | ANSI, ISO |
| File Handling | Supports sequential, indexed, and relative files |
| Platforms | Primarily used in mainframe and enterprise systems |
| Modern Use | Legacy systems in banking, government, and insurance |
Advantages : COBOL full form
Readability: COBOL’s syntax is designed to be close to English, making it easier to read and recognize, which facilitates in upkeep and collaboration among programmers.
Business Orientation: Specifically designed for business applications, COBOL successfully handles large volumes of facts and complicated calculations, making it perfect for economic and administrative obligations.
Data Processing: COBOL excels in batch processing, permitting organizations to manner large units of statistics speedy and correctly.
Legacy Systems: Many existing agency structures and applications are built in COBOL, making it a important language for maintaining and integrating with these legacy systems.
Standardization: COBOL is standardized by ANSI and ISO, which guarantees consistency in programming practices and enhances portability throughout exclusive structures.
Robustness and Reliability: COBOL is thought for its stability and reliability, particularly in venture-essential applications where downtime may be luxurious.
Support for Structured Programming: With its help for based programming strategies, COBOL permits for better organisation of code, making it simpler to control and debug complicated programs.
Disadvantage : COBOL full form
Verbosity: COBOL’s syntax can be pretty verbose as compared to trendy programming languages, main to longer code and doubtlessly making it greater bulky to write down and maintain.
Limited Modern Features: While COBOL has been up to date to include some cutting-edge programming features, it nonetheless lacks many advanced capabilities located in more moderen languages, along with modern-day statistics structures and libraries.
Declining Talent Pool: As newer programming languages advantage reputation, fewer new builders are mastering COBOL, leading to a shrinking staff professional in preserving and updating COBOL systems.
Integration Challenges: Integrating COBOL packages with contemporary technology (like cloud computing and cell apps) can be complex and high-priced, hindering modernization efforts.
Performance Issues: Although COBOL is efficient for batch processing, it may now not carry out as nicely in real-time programs or environments that require excessive-speed processing.
Perceived Obsolescence: Many view COBOL as previous, which can deter funding in COBOL initiatives or tasks, even if they may be essential.
Maintenance Costs: The want for specialized knowledge to hold COBOL packages can result in better maintenance expenses, in particular as experienced COBOL developers retire.
Characteristics : COBOL full form
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Human-Readable Syntax | COBOL’s syntax resembles English, making it easier to read and understand. |
| Procedural Language | Primarily a procedural programming language, supporting structured programming techniques. |
| Data Handling | Strong capabilities for handling and processing large data sets with various data types. |
| Business-Oriented | Specifically designed for business applications, focusing on data processing and reporting. |
| File Management | Extensive support for different types of file handling, including sequential, indexed, and relative files. |
| Standardized | Governed by ANSI and ISO standards, ensuring consistency and portability across platforms. |
| Backward Compatibility | Designed to be compatible with older versions, allowing legacy systems to be maintained and integrated. |
Usage : COBOL full form
Financial Services: Widely utilized in banks and financial establishments for transaction processing, account management, and reporting.
Government Applications: Utilized in various government organizations for processing tax returns, social safety, and different public service programs.
Insurance: Employed via insurance organizations for coverage control, claims processing, and customer statistics control.
Retail Systems: Used in retail environments for stock management, point-of-sale systems, and income reporting.
Mainframe Environments: Predominantly discovered in mainframe computing, in which it handles massive-scale transaction processing and facts control.
Telecommunications: Applied in telecom businesses for billing systems, customer service applications, and community management.
Legacy Systems Maintenance: Continues to help and maintain legacy structures throughout numerous industries, making sure the reliability of existing programs.
COBOL Data Manipulation
| Operation Type | COBOL Keyword | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic Operations | ||
| Addition | ADD | Adds values of specified variables and stores the result |
| Subtraction | SUBTRACT | Subtracts values of specified variables and stores the result |
| Multiplication | MULTIPLY | Multiplies values of specified variables and stores the result |
| Division | DIVIDE | Divides values of specified variables and stores the result |
COBOL File Handling
1. File Definition
- FILE SECTION: This section defines the files that the program will use, specifying their organization and access modes.
- FD (File Description): Describes the file structure, including record length, key fields, and data types.
2. File Organizations
- Sequential: Records are accessed sequentially from start to end.
- Indexed: Records are accessed using an index or key value.
- Relative: Records are accessed based on their relative position within the file.
3. File Access Modes
- Input (I/O) Mode: File is opened for reading (input) data.
- Output (O) Mode: File is opened for writing (output) data.
- Input-Output (I-O) Mode: File is opened for both reading and writing.
4. File Operations
- OPEN: Opens the file for input, output, or input-output operations.
- CLOSE: Closes the file after processing.
- READ: Reads a record from the file.
- WRITE: Writes a record to the file.
- REWRITE: Replaces the current record in the file.
- DELETE: Removes the current record from the file.
COBOL Program Design and Structure
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Program Division | The main structure of a COBOL program |
| – Contains Identification, Environment, Data, and Procedure Divisions | |
| Data Division | Defines the data used in the program |
| – Contains Data, File, Working-Storage, and Local Storage Sections | |
| Procedure Division | Contains the actual program logic and instructions |
| – Contains Statements, Paragraphs, and Sections | |
| Paragraphs and Sections | Blocks of code within the Procedure Division |
| – Enhances program organization and reusability | |
| Subprograms | Segments of code that perform specific tasks |
| – Can be external (CALLed) or internal (PERFORMed) | |
| Modularization | Organizes code into manageable and reusable units |
| – Enhances maintainability and code readability |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Common Business Oriented Language (COBOL) is a powerful and versatile programming language that is still widely used for business applications today. COBOL is likely to remain a popular language for business applications for many years to come.
FAQs
Q1:What does COBOL full form?
A: COBOL stands for “Common Business-Oriented Language.”
Q2: When was COBOL developed?
A: COBOL was developed in 1959 by a committee known as CODASYL.
Q3: What are the main uses of COBOL?
A: COBOL is primarily used in business applications, particularly in finance, government, insurance, and legacy systems.
Q4: Is COBOL still relevant today?
A: Yes, COBOL remains relevant, especially in legacy systems within financial institutions and government agencies that require stability and reliability.
Q5: What are the advantages of using COBOL?
A: Advantages include its readability, business orientation, data processing capabilities, and robustness in handling large datasets.
