Basic Verbs in COBOL Language

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language/">COBOL programming language. Verbs are the words that tell the computer what to do with the data in your program. They are essential for writing clear and efficient code. Let’s take a look at some of the most common verbs in COBOL and how to use them.

What is Basic Verbs in COBOL Language?

In COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language), verbs are statements that instruct the computer to perform specific actions or operations. COBOL provides a set of basic verbs that allow you to control program flow, manipulate data, and interact with files and external systems. Here are some of the basic verbs in COBOL:

1. DISPLAY Verb:

• The DISPLAY verb is used to show output to the user or write data to the system’s output. It is often used for displaying messages, results, and reports. Example:

   DISPLAY 'Hello, World!'.

2. ACCEPT Verb:

• The ACCEPT verb is used for taking input from the user or reading data from the system’s input. It is commonly used for capturing user input. Example:

   ACCEPT Name.

3. PERFORM Verb:

• The PERFORM verb is used to control program flow and execute a section or paragraph multiple times. It is used for loops and iterative operations. Example:

   PERFORM 10-Times
       DISPLAY 'This is iteration ', Iteration-Counter.

4. IF-ELSE-END-IF Verbs:

• These verbs are used for conditional branching and decision-making within the program. They allow you to execute different code blocks based on conditions. Example:

   IF Age > 18
       DISPLAY 'You are an adult.'.
   ELSE
       DISPLAY 'You are a minor.'.
   END-IF.

5. MOVE Verb:

• The MOVE verb is used for assigning values to variables. It allows you to copy data from one variable to another. Example:

   MOVE 42 TO Age.

6. ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY, DIVIDE Verbs:

• These arithmetic verbs are used for performing basic mathematical operations on numeric data. Example:

   ADD 10 TO Total.

7. COMPUTE Verb:

• The COMPUTE verb is used for more complex arithmetic operations. It allows you to perform multiple arithmetic operations in a single statement. Example:

   COMPUTE Result = (Num1 * 2) + (Num2 / 3).

8. OPEN, CLOSE, READ, WRITE, REWRITE, DELETE Verbs:

• These file-related verbs are used to interact with files, including opening, closing, reading, writing, rewriting, and deleting records in files. Example:

   OPEN Input-File.
   READ Input-File INTO Record.
   CLOSE Input-File.

Why we need Basic Verbs in COBOL Language?

Basic verbs in COBOL serve as fundamental building blocks for developing business-oriented applications. They are essential for several reasons:

1. Program Control: Basic verbs enable you to control the flow of your COBOL program. This includes specifying the sequence in which operations are performed and how the program responds to different conditions. Program control is essential for creating structured and effective software.
2. User Interaction: COBOL applications often involve interactions with users. The DISPLAY and ACCEPT verbs allow you to present information to users, capture their input, and create user-friendly interfaces, which are crucial for business applications.
3. Repetition and Iteration: Business applications frequently involve repetitive tasks, such as processing multiple records in a dataset or repeating specific operations. The PERFORM verb is vital for creating loops and performing iterative tasks efficiently.
4. Conditional Logic: Business rules and decision-making are inherent in many applications. COBOL’s IF-ELSE-END-IF constructs enable you to implement condition-based logic, making it possible to execute different code paths based on data conditions.
5. Data Manipulation: The MOVE verb is essential for data manipulation. It allows you to copy, transform, and assign values to variables, which is crucial for managing and processing data in business applications.
6. Arithmetic Operations: COBOL applications often involve mathematical calculations, especially in financial and numerical processing. Verbs like ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY, and DIVIDE allow you to perform arithmetic operations accurately and efficiently.
7. Complex Computation: The COMPUTE verb provides a way to perform complex calculations, including expressions involving multiple arithmetic operations and variable assignments. This simplifies the implementation of more intricate business logic.
8. File Management: Many business applications work with external data files, such as databases or text files. Verbs like OPEN, CLOSE, READ, WRITE, REWRITE, and DELETE are essential for managing these files, including reading, writing, and maintaining records.
9. Code Clarity and Readability: Basic verbs enhance the readability of COBOL code. They provide a natural language-like syntax that makes it easier for developers and business analysts to understand the program’s logic and operations. This is crucial for maintaining and enhancing legacy COBOL applications.
10. Business Rule Implementation: COBOL applications often involve the implementation of complex business rules and processes. Basic verbs enable you to translate these rules into executable code, ensuring that the software accurately reflects the business requirements.
11. Legacy Systems Maintenance: Many organizations rely on long-standing COBOL systems. Basic verbs allow developers to maintain and extend these systems efficiently while ensuring compatibility with existing code and data structures.

Example of Basic Verbs in COBOL Language

Here are some examples of basic verbs in COBOL:

1. DISPLAY Verb:

• The DISPLAY verb is used to show output to the user or write data to the system’s output.

   DISPLAY 'Hello, World!'.

2. ACCEPT Verb:

• The ACCEPT verb is used for taking input from the user or reading data from the system’s input.

   ACCEPT Name.

3. PERFORM Verb:

• The PERFORM verb is used to control program flow and execute a section or paragraph multiple times. It is used for loops and iterative operations.

   PERFORM 10-Times
       DISPLAY 'This is iteration ', Iteration-Counter.

4. IF-ELSE-END-IF Verbs:

• These verbs are used for conditional branching and decision-making within the program. They allow you to execute different code blocks based on conditions.

   IF Age > 18
       DISPLAY 'You are an adult.'.
   ELSE
       DISPLAY 'You are a minor.'.
   END-IF.

5. MOVE Verb:

• The MOVE verb is used for assigning values to variables. It allows you to copy data from one variable to another.

   MOVE 42 TO Age.

6. ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY, DIVIDE Verbs:

• These arithmetic verbs are used for performing basic mathematical operations on numeric data.

   ADD 10 TO Total.

7. COMPUTE Verb:

• The COMPUTE verb is used for more complex arithmetic operations. It allows you to perform multiple arithmetic operations in a single statement.

   COMPUTE Result = (Num1 * 2) + (Num2 / 3).

8. OPEN, CLOSE, READ, WRITE, REWRITE, DELETE Verbs:

• These file-related verbs are used to interact with files, including opening, closing, reading, writing, rewriting, and deleting records in files.

   OPEN Input-File.
   READ Input-File INTO Record.
   CLOSE Input-File.

Advantages of Basic Verbs in COBOL Language

Basic verbs in COBOL offer several advantages, making them fundamental for developing business-oriented applications:

1. Readability: COBOL’s basic verbs use a natural language-like syntax, enhancing code readability. This is especially important in business applications where clear and understandable code is crucial for both development and maintenance.
2. Ease of Learning: The simple and intuitive nature of basic verbs makes COBOL accessible to new developers. Those familiar with business processes can quickly understand and work with COBOL code.
3. User Interaction: Basic verbs like DISPLAY and ACCEPT enable straightforward user interaction, allowing applications to present information and collect user input effectively.
4. Control Flow: Basic verbs, such as PERFORM and conditional verbs like IF-ELSE-END-IF, provide control over program flow. This allows developers to implement logic and decision-making, supporting the execution of specific code paths based on conditions.
5. Data Manipulation: Verbs like MOVE, ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY, and DIVIDE facilitate data manipulation and arithmetic operations, which are fundamental in business calculations.
6. Modularity: Basic verbs promote code modularity by enabling the division of tasks into separate sections and paragraphs. This modular structure simplifies program development and maintenance, supporting code reuse.
7. Code Maintenance: The clear and structured nature of COBOL’s basic verbs makes it easier to maintain code, even in legacy systems. Developers can quickly understand and modify code, reducing the risk of errors during maintenance.
8. Robustness: The well-defined behavior of basic verbs ensures program robustness. This helps prevent unexpected errors and ensures that code behaves predictably, critical in business-critical applications.
9. User-Friendly Interfaces: Basic verbs assist in creating user-friendly interfaces, which are crucial for applications in business settings. Users can interact with the system more easily and understand the information presented to them.
10. Business Logic Implementation: Basic verbs align well with the implementation of business rules and processes. This is particularly valuable in enterprise applications, which often involve complex business logic.
11. Legacy System Support: COBOL’s basic verbs are essential for maintaining and extending legacy COBOL systems that remain in use by many organizations. They facilitate the ongoing operation of mission-critical applications.
12. Efficiency: COBOL’s basic verbs are designed for efficiency in processing business data. They provide a clear path to performing common operations, making them well-suited for the high-volume data processing demands of business applications.

Disadvantages of Basic Verbs in COBOL Language

While basic verbs in COBOL have their advantages, they also come with certain disadvantages:

1. Limited Expressiveness: COBOL’s basic verbs are well-suited for business-oriented applications, but they may lack the expressiveness needed for more complex tasks, such as scientific computing, real-time systems, or applications requiring advanced data structures.
2. Verbosity: COBOL code can be verbose, with longer and wordier statements compared to modern programming languages. This verbosity can make code harder to read and maintain.
3. Learning Curve: For developers accustomed to more modern and concise languages, learning COBOL, with its unique syntax and structure, can be challenging and time-consuming.
4. Compatibility and Portability: COBOL code may not always be easily portable between different compilers or versions due to variations in implementations and standards. This can lead to compatibility issues.
5. Performance: While COBOL is optimized for business data processing, it may not perform as efficiently as some modern languages for tasks that involve heavy computation or real-time processing. For these scenarios, other languages may be more suitable.
6. Limited Ecosystem: The ecosystem around COBOL, including available libraries and tools, is smaller and more specialized compared to more widely used programming languages. Finding COBOL expertise can be more challenging, and the resources available may be limited.
7. Security Concerns: Older COBOL systems may have security vulnerabilities that are difficult to address due to the limited availability of security patches and expertise in legacy COBOL code.
8. Lack of Advanced Features: COBOL traditionally lacks support for advanced features found in modern languages, such as object-oriented programming, concurrency control, or integrated development environments (IDEs).
9. Effort in Transition: Transitioning from COBOL to more modern languages can be costly and time-consuming, particularly when dealing with legacy systems. Migration efforts can be complex and expensive.
10. Scalability: For applications requiring scalability, such as web-based services or cloud computing, COBOL may not be the most suitable choice due to limitations in these areas.
11. Integration Challenges: Integrating COBOL systems with more modern technologies, databases, and web services can be challenging and may require additional tools or middleware.
12. Limited Developer Pool: The pool of COBOL developers has been shrinking, and finding new talent with COBOL expertise can be difficult, particularly as more developers are focused on contemporary languages.