Procedure-oriented programming is a programming paradigm that follows a structured approach to problem solving. It is based on the concept of procedures, also known as routines, subroutines, or functions, which are blocks of code that perform a specific task and can be called upon to execute that task whenever needed.
The main goal of procedure-oriented programming is to break a complex problem down into smaller, more manageable pieces, or procedures, that can be individually solved and then combined to solve the larger problem. This modular approach makes it easier to understand, debug, and maintain the code.
In procedure-oriented programming, the focus is on creating these procedures, which are typically organized into a hierarchy of functions. Each function is responsible for a specific task and communicates with other functions through parameters and return values. The main function at the top of the hierarchy coordinates the execution of the other functions, making sure that they are called in the correct order to solve the problem.
Procedure-oriented programming also emphasizes the importance of data abstraction, which is the separation of data from the processes that manipulate it. This means that the data is treated as an abstract entity and is only accessed through the functions that are designed to manipulate it. This helps to protect the data from being inadvertently modified or corrupted, making it easier to ensure the integrity of the program.
Procedure-oriented programming has been a dominant programming paradigm for many years and is still widely used today, particularly in languages such as C and FORTRAN. However, it has been largely superseded by object-oriented programming, which is a more flexible and powerful programming paradigm that allows for the creation of reusable components and more modular code.