<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)
Nearby terms:
blocked records « Block Redundancy Check « Block Started by Symbol « block-structured » block transfer computations » Bloggs Family, the » Blosim
