Programmin leid

The soorce code for a simple computer program written in the C programmin leid. Whan compiled an executit, it gies the ootput "Hello, world!".

A programmin leid is a formal leid designed tae communicate instructions tae a machine, particularly a computer. Programmin leids can be uised tae create programs that control the behaviour o a machine or express algorithms precisely.

The earliest programmin leids precedit the invention o the computer, an war uised tae direct the behaviour o machines such as Jacquard looms an player pianos. Thoosands o different programmin leids hae been creatit an still mony are bein creatit every year. Mony programmin leids require computation tae be specified in an imperative style (as a sequence o operations tae perform), while ither leids mak uise o ither teeps o program specification styles lik declarative programmin (whaur the desired result is specified but nae hou tae achieve it).

The description o a programmin leid is uisually split in tae the twa components o syntax (form) an semantics (meanin). Some leids are defined bi a specification document (for example, the C programmin leid is specified bi an ISO Staundart), while ither leids, such as Perl (version 5 an earlier), hae a dominant implementation that is uised as a reference.