COBOL Divisions

COBOL stands for Common Business-Oriented Programming Language, which is one of the oldest and first high-level programming languages. It is mostly used for the defense and insurance domains which require huge data processing.

Features of COBOL:

• It is a business-oriented and robust language
• Provide good file handling methods
• Excellent self-documenting capabilities
• Structured Programming language

A COBOL program basically divided into the following four divisions:

1. Identification division
2. Environment division
3. Data division
4. Procedure division

Identification Division:

• This is the first and the compulsory division of every COBOL program.
•  In this division, the details like author name, date of execution, date of writing the code, installation, etc. can be mentioned. 

Syntax:

  IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.                                                                           

  PROGRAM-ID.  PGM-NAME.

  [AUTHOR.                               Comment Entry]

  [INSTALLATION.                     Comment Entry]

  [DATE-COMPILED.                  Comment Entry]

 [DATE-COMPILED.                  Comment Entry]

Environment division:

• Using this environment division we can specify the program features which are dependent on the system running it. 
• Environment division is used to specify, the computer environment in which the program is written and executed. 
• Environment division is further divided into two types:
  • Configuration Section: Identifies the computer used for compiling programs.
  • Input- Output Section: Identifies the files and the input-output resources used by the program.

Syntax:

 ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.                                                 

 CONFIGURATION SECTION.

   INPUT-OUTPUT  SECTION.

   [FILE-CONTROL. ]

   [ File control entries ] 

   [ I - O  CONTROL. ]

  [ I- O  Control entries ]  

Data Division: 

• The data division is used to declare variables and parameters in the COBOL program.
• In Data division we declare the variables, their data type, size, usage type, etc. 
• Data division is optional unless the program manipulates any constant and user-defined data.
• DATA DIVISION has three different sections, which is mentioned below:
  • FILE SECTION: describe most of the data that is sent to, or coming from, the computer's peripherals.
  • WORKING-STORAGE SECTION: Describes the general variables used in the program
  • LINKAGE SECTION: Establishes a link between two programs

Procedure Division: 

• This is the main division in the COBOL programming language, where business logic has to be written.
• Procedure Division contains user-defined Sections, Paragraphs, Sentences, Statements, Clauses, and Verbs.
• Statements and sentences are necessary for reading input, processing it, and writing the output.
• All the data described in the DATA DIVISION are processed here and desired results are produced.
• Should contain at least one paragraph, sentence, and statement
• only the Section is an option.

Example 1:

Output:

Explanation:

• In this program, we are displaying the uses and performance of the 4 different kinds of COBOL division. Which we discussed in this article. 
• Identification division is used to display author details.
• Environment division is used to display, source computer details, and object computer details. As well as input-output files details we have to mention under this division only.
• Data division is used to introduce all the variables before using them in the procedure division
• Procedure division is used to write the main part of the program and its functionality.