Procedural programming
programming paradigm based upon the concept of the modularity and scope of program code (i.e., the data viewing range of an executable code statement). A main procedural program is composed of one or more modules (also called packages or units), either coded by the same programmer or pre-coded by someone else and provided in a code library.
Each module is composed of one or more subprograms (which may consist of procedures, functions, subroutines or methods, depending on programming language). It is possible for a procedural program to have multiple levels or scopes, with subprograms defined inside other subprograms. Each scope can contain names which cannot be seen in outer scopes.
Procedural programming offers many benefits over simple sequential programming since procedural code:
- is easier to read and more maintainable
- is more flexible
- facilitates the practice of good program design
Procedural programming languages facilitate the programmer's task in following a procedural programming approach.
Procedural programming should not be confused with the orthogonal concept of imperative programming. An example of a non-imperative yet procedural programming language is Logo, which specifies sequences of steps to perform but does not have an internal state.
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