algebraic language
Definition
Noun: A type of computer programming language whose statements and syntax are designed to resemble algebraic expressions. It is an algorithmic language, meaning it provides a set of rules and instructions for solving problems or performing computations.
Usage
This term is used in the field of computer science and programming to classify and describe specific programming languages. It refers to the language's syntactical structure, not its specific capabilities.
Examples
- General Statement:
- FORTRAN is a classic example of an algebraic language.
- In a Technical Context:
- The program was originally written in an algebraic language before being ported to a more modern system.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: The term is often used when discussing the history of programming languages, particularly those developed in the 1950s and 1960s like ALGOL, FORTRAN, and early versions of BASIC, which were explicitly designed to make mathematical formula translation easier for scientists and engineers.
Variants and Related Words
- Algorithmic Language (n): A more general term for a programming language designed to express algorithms.
- Algebraic Expression (n): A mathematical phrase that can contain ordinary numbers, variables, and operators. This is the model for the statements in an algebraic language.
Synonyms
- Formula-translation language (This is a descriptive synonym, closely related to the purpose of languages like FORTRAN, which stands for FORmula TRANslation).
Related Concepts (Not Direct Synonyms)
- Procedural Language: A type of programming language that specifies a series of well-structured steps and procedures within a programming context. Many algebraic languages are also procedural.
- Scientific Programming Language: A category that often overlaps with algebraic languages, as they are used for mathematical and scientific computations.
Noun
-
an algorithmic language having statements that resemble algebraic expressions
