Imperative programming

In computer science, imperative programming is a programming paradigm.

Description

The imperative programming paradigm describes computation in terms of statements that change a program state.

In much the same way that the imperative mood in natural languages expresses commands to take action, imperative programs define sequences of commands for the computer to perform.

Imperative programming (necessary programming) is focused on describing how a program operates.

Declarative programming

The term is often used in contrast to declarative programming, which focuses on what the program should accomplish without prescribing how to do it in terms of sequences of actions to be taken.

Analogy: curriculum and syllabus

An analogy between programming paradigms and educational paradigms:

Curriculum is to imperative programming

as

Syllabus is to declarative programming

See Syllabus versus curriculum.

See also

• Computer program
• Functional programming
• Programming language
• Programming paradigm
• Statement (computer science)
• Syllabus versus curriculum

External links

• Imperative programming @ Wikipedia