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fourth-generation language

Often abbreviated 4GL, fourth-generation languages are programming languages closer to human languages than typical high-level programming languages. Most 4GLs are used to access databases. For example, a typical 4GL command is

FIND ALL RECORDS WHERE NAME IS "SMITH"

The other four generations of computer languages are

  • first generation: machine language
  • second generation: assembly language
  • third generation: high-level programming languages, such as C, C++, and Java.
  • fifth generation: languages used for artificial intelligence and neural networks.
  • fourth-generation language


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