The Computer Revolution/Programming/Procedural Programming



Procedural programming focuses on the step-by-step instructions that tell the computer what to do to solve a problem. This is the other most significant approach to programming, next to object-oriented programming (OOP). Procedural programming is based on procedure call which is locating specific tasks in procedures that are called by the main program code whenever a task needs to be completed. When it is done programming, the program control will return to the main program.

Procedures are small sections of program code that are called by the main program code when the tasks need to be performed. After a procedure finishes, the program control returns to the main program. By doing this approach, this allows each procedure to be performed as many times as needed without requiring unnecessary multiple copies of the same code. This makes the program smaller and the main program is easier to understand. With using this programming, it allows faster development time.

Structured programming is a type of programming that involves breaking the program into smaller modules of code. The modules have a duty of performing a single task, therefore eliminating the need to use the GOTO statement. The GOTO statement was very heavily used before procedural programming was created. It is basically a statement to send program control to a specific line of a code to complete commands at that specific point until another GOTO statement is reached.

In structured programming the overall general tasks that need to be performed first are of the highest priority and then the tasks get more and more specific as it goes on- the top-down philosophy. Sometimes structured programming and procedural programming are used interchangeably.