Summary -
In this topic, we have explained Character set with detailed examples.
- Generally, the character is the basic unit of any programming language, and the set of valid characters creates the character-set.
- The set of valid characters creates the character-set for any programming language that contains the alphabets(A-Z/a-z), digits(0-9), and special characters.
- Similarly, the COBOL language has its own set of valid characters (78) like other programming languages.
The list of basic COBOL character sets are –
Character | Meaning | Usage |
---|---|---|
Space | Punctuation character | |
+ | Plus sign | Arithmetic operator Editing character |
- | Minus sign or hyphen | Arithmetic operator Editing character Continuation character COBOL word element |
* | Asterisk | Arithmetic operator Editing character Comment character |
/ | Forward slash or solidus | Arithmetic operator Editing character Continuation character |
= | Equal sign | Punctuation character Relation character |
$ | Currency sign | Editing character |
, | Comma | Editing character Punctuation character |
; | Semicolon | Punctuation character |
. | Decimal point or period | Editing character Punctuation character |
" | Quotation mark | Punctuation character |
' | Apostrophe | Punctuation character |
( | Left parenthesis | Punctuation character |
) | Right parenthesis | Punctuation character |
> | Greater than | Relational character |
< | Less than | Relational character |
: | Colon | Relational character |
_ | Underscore | User-defined word element |
A - Z | Alphabet (uppercase) | Alphabetic characters |
a - z | Alphabet (lowercase) | Alphabetic characters |
0 - 9 | Numeric characters | Numeric characters |
For Example -
Character | Usage & Example |
---|---|
Space | Delimiter character
Space used as a delimiter. |
+ | Arithmetic operator
+ used as a arithmetic operator.
Editing character.
+ used as a editing character. |
- | Arithmetic operator
- used as a arithmetic operator.
Editing character.
- used as a editing character.
Continuation character.
- used as a continuation character.
COBOL word element
- used as a word element.
|
* | Arithmetic operator
* used as a arithmetic operator.
Editing character.
* used as a editing character.
Comment character.
* used as a comment character. |
/ | Arithmetic operator
/ used as a arithmetic operator.
Editing character.
/ used as a editing character.
Continuation character.
* used as a Continuation character. |
= | Delimiter character
= used as a Delimiter character.
Relation character
= used as a Relation character. |
$ | Editing character
$ used as a Editing character. |
, | Editing character
, used as a Editing character.
Punctuation character
, used as a Punctuation character. |
; | Punctuation character |
. | Editing character
$ used as a Editing character. |
" | Punctuation character
" used as a Punctuation character. |
' | Punctuation character
' used as a Punctuation character. |
( | Punctuation character
( used as a Punctuation character. |
) | Punctuation character
) used as a Punctuation character. |
> | Relational character
> used as a Relational character. |
< | Relational character
< used as a Relational character. |
: | Relational character
: used as a Relational character. |
_ | User-defined word element
_ used as a User-defined word element. |
Note! Read this topic once again after the Divisions and variable declarations topics reading is completed. Then you will get a clear understanding.