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Block (programming)
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Computer_programming/QmSsFnu0">computer programming</a>, a block or code block or block of code is a lexical structure of <a href="/facts/Source_code/o9J6Jv23">source code</a> which is grouped together. Blocks consist of one or more <a href="/facts/Declaration_(computer_programming)/CbH6UjHA">declarations</a> and <a href="/facts/Statement_(computer_science)/bEkBufqX">statements</a>. A <a href="/facts/Programming_language/cWTYbgWa">programming language</a> that permits the creation of blocks, including blocks <a href="/facts/Nesting_(computing)/w614LWzv">nested</a> within other blocks, is called a block-structured programming language. Blocks are fundamental to <a href="/facts/Structured_programming/zA8b8dP1">structured programming</a>, where <a href="/facts/Control_structure/2XTDfErC">control structures</a> are formed from blocks. </p><p>Blocks have two functions: to group statements so that they can be treated as one statement, and to define <a href="/facts/Scope_(computer_science)/bbj6AFMo">scopes</a> for <a href="/facts/Name_binding/HbBx9mpM">names</a> to distinguish them from the same name used elsewhere. In a block-structured programming language, the objects named in outer blocks are visible inside inner blocks, unless they are <a href="/facts/Name_masking/e94x0puw">masked</a> by an <a href="/facts/Object_(computer_science)/eX99dtAw">object</a> declared with the same name. </p>