Procedural Programming Languages

Procedural programming languages are those which are strongly oriented toward the programmer rather than toward the computer. These languages are designed to allow programmers to write code in a way that is easy to read and understand, making it easier to write, debug, and maintain the code. Here are some key features of procedural programming languages:

- Emphasis on procedures or functions: Procedural programming languages focus on breaking down larger programs into smaller, more manageable procedures or functions. These procedures or functions can be reused throughout the program, making it easier to write and maintain the code.
- Top-down design: Procedural programming languages typically use a top-down design approach, where the program is broken down into smaller and smaller pieces until each piece can be easily implemented as a procedure or function.
- Structured programming constructs: Procedural programming languages often include structured programming constructs like loops, conditionals, and subroutines. These constructs make it easier to write code that is easy to read and understand.
- Sequential execution: Procedural programming languages execute code sequentially, meaning that each line of code is executed in order. This makes it easier to follow the flow of the program and debug any issues that arise.

Examples of procedural programming languages include C, Fortran, and Pascal. These languages are still widely used today, particularly in scientific and engineering applications where performance is critical. However, they are less commonly used in web development and other modern applications, where object-oriented programming languages like Java and Python are more popular.