Computer Science – 20.1 Programming Paradigms | e-Consult

The imperative (or procedural) programming paradigm is one of the oldest and most widely used approaches to software development. Its core characteristic is that a program is viewed as a sequence of commands that are executed in a specific order. Here's a breakdown of its key features:

• State and Variables: Imperative programming relies heavily on variables to store data and modify the program's state. The program's execution changes the values of these variables.
• Statements: Programs are composed of statements that perform actions, such as assigning values to variables, performing calculations, and controlling the flow of execution.
• Sequential Execution: Instructions are typically executed sequentially, one after the other, although control flow statements (like loops and conditional statements) allow for branching and repetition.
• Algorithms: Imperative programming often involves designing algorithms – step-by-step procedures – to solve problems. These algorithms are then translated into code.
• Emphasis on 'How': The paradigm focuses on *how* a task is accomplished – the precise steps the computer must take.
• Examples: Popular imperative languages include C, Pascal, and Fortran.

In essence, an imperative program is a set of instructions that tell the computer exactly what to do and in what order to do it. The program's state is constantly being updated as these instructions are executed.