A Simple COBOL Program with Explanation: An SEO-Optimized Guide

COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) is one of the oldest programming languages, specifically designed for business data processing. It was widely used in the 1960s and 1970s but still has a foothold today, particularly in financial services and other industries that rely on transactional processing. In this guide, we will walk through a simple COBOL program, providing explanations for each section to help you understand its function and structure.

The Importance of COBOL in Modern Programming

Despite being an older language, COBOL still holds significance in the world of programming. Many legacy systems powering critical business operations continue to rely on COBOL. As a result, maintaining and understanding these systems remains an essential skill for many developers. Additionally, the language has a rich syntax and specific features that make it unique and useful for certain applications.

Understanding the Structure of a COBOL Program

Before diving into the code, let’s familiarize ourselves with the structure of a COBOL program. A typical COBOL program consists of several sections, each performing a specific task. These sections include:

ID Division: Contains identification and organization details. Environment Division: Defines the working storage and describes the environment in which the program runs. Data Division: Defines the data used in the program. Procedure Division: Contains the executable statements that constitute the main body of the program.

A Simple COBOL Program Example

Let’s go through a simple COBOL program that adds two numbers and displays the result. This example includes comments to explain each part of the code.

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. SIMPLE-ADDER.
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
FILE-CONTROL.
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 NBR1 PIC 99.
01 NBR2 PIC 99.
01 RESULT PIC 99.
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
    DISPLAY 'Enter First Number:'.
    ACCEPT NBR1.
    DISPLAY 'Enter Second Number:'.
    ACCEPT NBR2.
    ADD NBR1 TO NBR2.
    MOVE RESULT TO NBR1.
    DISPLAY 'The Sum is:' NBR1.
    STOP RUN.

Explanation of the Code

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION:

PROGRAM-ID: This section defines the name of the program for identification purposes. In our example, the program is named “SIMPLE-ADDER”.

ENVIRONMENT DIVISION:

INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION: This section is not required in this specific program as there are no external files being accessed.

DATA DIVISION:

The WORKING-STORAGE SECTION defines variables to be used within the program. In this case, we define three variables: NBR1, NBR2, and RESULT, each to hold a two-digit integer. These variables are declared with the PIC 99 clause, which means the variables can hold a positive number less than 100.

PROCEDURE DIVISION:

The PROCEDURE DIVISION is where the actual execution of the program takes place. The program starts with prompting the user to enter two numbers. The values are stored in the variables NBR1 and NBR2, then added together and the result is stored in NBR1. Finally, the sum is displayed to the user, and the program stops running.

Conclusion

COBOL remains a relevant language in the modern programming landscape, particularly for legacy systems and specialized transaction processing applications. Understanding the structure and syntax of COBOL, as demonstrated in the example provided, can be beneficial for developers working with such systems or interested in the history of programming languages.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is COBOL different from modern programming languages?

COBOL was designed for business data processing, emphasizing readability and data handling. It uses English-like keywords that make the code easier to understand, whereas modern languages like Python or Java focus on more complex data structures and functions.

Is learning COBOL still worth it?

Yes, learning COBOL is still valuable for several reasons. It helps in understanding the evolution of programming languages and can be useful in maintaining critical legacy systems. Additionally, mastering COBOL can provide unique insights into business logic programming.