imperative programming
- noun
- /ɪmˈpɛrətɪv ˈprɒɡræmɪŋ/
- Specialized
:
programación imperativa
- Learning imperative programming is essential for beginners, as it lays the foundation for understanding how most programming languages operate.
Examples
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Many developers prefer imperative programming because it allows them to easily manage the state of their applications.
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This makes Java a sort of "lowest common denominator" language for imperative programming, but offers virtually no direct support for other programming styles.
Blog text (30) -
In imperative programming, each statement directly changes the program's state, making it straightforward to understand how data flows.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The adjective 'imperative' (relating to commands or orders) combined with 'programming' gives a clear general sense: programming that uses commands or orders. A B1 learner who knows both words can infer the broad idea, but the specific technical nuance (programming by changing program state vs other paradigms) is not fully predictable without domain knowledge, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The term imperative programming comes from the word imperative, which means a 'command', and programming, which means writing instructions. In this style you give the computer a list of 'commands' to do in order, each one changing the program's values, so the name shows you are telling the computer what to do step by step.
