COBOL is a computer programming language initially developed in 1959 to process business data like finance and records. It is structured hierarchically with divisions, sections, paragraphs and statements to organize code. COBOL supports numeric, alphanumeric and alphabetic data types as well as arithmetic, logical and relational operators. Expressions, branching, input/output, iterations and comments are implemented through statements, mnemonic codes and verbs like ADD, BE, PERFORM and *.

1. Overview of COBOLCOBOL - COmmon Business-Oriented LanguageUsed primarily in company and government business, finance, and administrative systems Developed in 1959 by CODASYL (Conference on Data Systems Languages) to provide common business language for business applications

2. COBOL StructureStructured hierarchicallyDivisionsIdentificationEnvironmentData ProcedureSectionsParagraphsSentencesStatements

3. Basic Data Types, Identifiers, OperatorsData Types

4. Numeric

5. Alphanumeric

6. Alphabetic

7. Identifiers

8. Self

9. Super

10. Null

11. Operators

12. Arithmetic

13. Logical

14. RelationalAdditional COBOL InformationTypical expression example: ADD SUB-BAL TO TOTAL-BAL.Conditional/unconditional branching handled by mnemonic codes such as BE (branch on equal) and B (unconditional branch)

15. Input/outputs descriptions in the environment and data divisions indicate input/output statements allowed in the procedure division

16. All iterations handled by PERFORM verb

17. Comments are documented by coding ‘*’ in position 7, then adding comments to the line