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COBOL - Basic Syntax

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

Cobol is a high-level language, which has its own compiler. The COBOL compiler translates the COBOL program into an object program, which is finally executed. A Syntax refers to the rules and regulations for writing any statement in a programming language. It is related to the grammar and structure of the language.

Program Syntax Rules of COBOL:

  • COBOL syntax is very easy.
  • These are not case-sensitive.
  • A COBOL consists of more than 300 reserved words.
  • It lacks a big-size standard library, as it has only 43 statements, 87 functions, and just one class.

COBOL Character Set:

Cobol is based on an EBCDIC character set which has the following:

  • English alphabets (both lowercase and uppercase).
  • Number 0-9.
  • Few special characters. E.g Space, comma, $,quote, etc.

COBOL Coding Sheet: 

The below table describes the code layout, for writing working executable COBOL code.  

Columns Number with a record length of 80 bytes:

S.NoColumn specificationShort Description Description
1.1-6Sequence Number it is used to identify each line of the source program, can contain any character in the system character set  
2.7Reserved for special character

it is an indicator area used for specifying.

  • * ⇒ Comment
  • - ⇒ Continuation
  • / ⇒ Form Feed
3.8-11Area ACobol divisions, sections, paragraphs being written in columns 8-11
4.12-72Area BSpace for Writing Cobol Statements
5.73-80System generated Number For programmer use 

Let's take an example and understand how to COBOL syntax and program works:

Example:

Output:

👁 Image

COBOL Code Explanation:

  • In the  COBOL program(YOUR-PROGRAM-NAME) NUM1 is a Numeric literal with a predefined default value of 1458.
  • MESSAGE is an Alphanumeric literal with the predefined value of 'HELLO WORLD'.
  • DISPLAY keyword is used to print the Default value for both the Variables(NUM1, MESSAGE) used inside the program.
  • There are 4 divisions inside every Cobol program.
  • To compile a COBOL program through JCL we a have popularly used utility known as IGYWCL. Refer to JCL for compiling the COBOL.
  • After the code is compiled it creates a Load Module. A Load Module is the non-human readable file, a low-level machine-readable file.
  • To execute the Program in a mainframe environment we have to give the Program ID in the above example, YOUR-PROGRAM-NAME is the program-id and path of load library. Refer to RUN JCL.

JCL for compiling the COBOL:

//JOBNAME JOB ACCTNO,NAME,MSGCLASS=1
//S001 EXEC IGYWCL
//COBOL.SYSIN DD DSN = LOCATION_OF_CODE,DISP= SHR
//COBOL.SYSLIB DD DSN = COPYBOOK_LOCATION,DISP = SHR
//LKED.SYSMOD DD DSN = LOADLIB_PATH(YOUR-PROGRAM-NAME),DISP=SHR

RUN JCL - For running program:

//JOBNAME JOB ACCTNO,NAME,MSGCLASS=1
//* JCL TO RUN COBOL PROGRAM*
//STEP01 EXEC PGM= YOUR-PROGRAM-NAME
//STPLIB DD DSN = LOADLIB_PATH,DISP=SHR
//SYSOUT DD SYSOUT = *
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