< language > (3GL, " high level language ") A language designed to be easier for a human to understand, including things like named variables. A fragment might be
let c = c + 2 * d
Fortran, ALGOL and COBOL are early examples of this sort of language. Most "modern" languages ( BASIC , C , C++ ) are third generation. Most 3GLs support structured programming .
See also second generation language , fourth generation language .
(1996-05-30)