Computing Dictionary
block-structured definition
language Any programming language in which sections of
source code contained within pairs of matching
delimiters such as "
" and "" (e.g. in
C) or "begin" and "end" (e.g.
Algol) are executed as a single unit. A block of code may be the body of a
subroutine or
function, or it may be controlled by conditional execution (
if statement) or repeated execution (
while statement,
for statement, etc.).
In all but the most primitive block structured languages a
variable's
scope can be limited to the block in which it is declared.
Block-structured languages support
structured programming where each block can be written without detailed knowledge of the inner workings of other blocks, thus allowing a
top-down design approach.
See also
abstract data type,
module.
(2004-09-29)
