Borland C++ Builder: The Complete Reference

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A Structured Language
In your previous programming experience, you may have heard the term "block
structured" applied to a computer language. Although the term block-structured
language does not strictly apply to C, C is commonly referred to simply as a structured
language. Technically, a block-structured language permits procedures or functions to
be declared inside other procedures or functions. Since C does not allow the creation
of functions within functions, it cannot formally be called block structured.
The distinguishing feature of a structured language is compartmentalization of code
and data. Compartmentalization is the language's ability to section off and hide from
the rest of the program all information and instructions necessary to perform a specific
task. One way of achieving compartmentalization is to use subroutines that employ
local (temporary) variables. By using local variables, the programmer can write
subroutines so that the events that occur within them cause no side effects in other
parts of the program. This capability makes it very easy for C programs to share
sections of code. If you develop compartmentalized functions, you only need to know
what a function does, not how it does it. Remember that excessive use of global
variables (variables known throughout the entire program) may allow bugs to creep
into a program by allowing unwanted side effects. (Anyone who has programmed in
traditional BASIC is well aware of this problem!)
The concept of compartmentalization is greatly expanded by C++. Specifically, in
C++, one part of your program can tightly control which other parts of your program
are allowed access.
A structured language allows a variety of programming possibilities. It directly
supports several loop constructs, such as while, do-while, and for. In a structured
language, the use of goto is either prohibited or discouraged and is not the common
form of program control that it is in old-style BASIC or traditional FORTRAN. A
structured language allows you to indent statements and does not require a strict
field concept.
Here are some examples of structured and nonstructured languages:
Structured
Nonstructured
Pascal
FORTRAN
Ada
BASIC
C++
COBOL
C
C#
Modula-2
You are here: CodeIdol > C++ > Borland C++ Builder: The Complete Reference > page: 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

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