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Fourth-generation programming language
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<p>A fourth-generation programming language (4GL) is a <a href="/facts/High-level_programming_language/smjECUhx">high-level</a> <a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">computer</a> <a href="/facts/Programming_language/cWTYbgWa">programming language</a> that belongs to a class of languages envisioned as an advancement upon <a href="/facts/Third-generation_programming_language/v6N8rpno">third-generation programming languages</a> (3GL). Each of the <a href="/facts/Programming_language_generations/p3vaJKsd">programming language generations</a> aims to provide a higher level of <a href="/facts/Abstraction_layer/EV8c84SY">abstraction</a> of the internal <a href="/facts/Computer_hardware/8jSjsCNv">computer hardware</a> details, making the language more <a href="/facts/Programmer/WGTS1Jv9">programmer</a>-friendly, powerful, and versatile. While the definition of 4GL has changed over time, it can be typified by operating more with large collections of information at once rather than focusing on just <a href="/facts/Bit/RwfjaYSv">bits</a> and <a href="/facts/Byte/BNHUp9Qq">bytes</a>. Languages claimed to be 4GL may include support for <a href="/facts/Database/VYcpkevb">database</a> management, <a href="/facts/Report_generator/NnChfvlm">report generation</a>, <a href="/facts/Mathematical_optimization/oRn8Iv5I">mathematical optimization</a>, <a href="/facts/Graphical_user_interface/wBlQFWDP">graphical user interface</a> (GUI) <a href="/facts/Graphical_user_interface_builder/nEGfulUQ">development</a>, or <a href="/facts/Web_development/UW5ypSzj">web development</a>. Some researchers state that 4GLs are a subset of <a href="/facts/Domain-specific_language/n18H1foD">domain-specific languages</a>. </p><p>The concept of 4GL was developed from the 1970s through the 1990s, overlapping most of the development of 3GL, with 4GLs identified as "non-procedural" or "program-generating" languages, contrasted with 3GLs being algorithmic or procedural languages. While 3GLs like <a href="/facts/C_(programming_language)/Ky2No763">C</a>, <a href="/facts/C%252B%252B/Et0F2qn9">C++</a>, <a href="/facts/C_Sharp_(programming_language)/UC2gxeyb">C#</a>, <a href="/facts/Java_(programming_language)/9ScgFyAL">Java</a>, and <a href="/facts/JavaScript/XhhIIEsl">JavaScript</a> remain popular for a wide variety of uses, 4GLs as originally defined found uses focused on databases, reports, and websites. Some advanced 3GLs like <a href="/facts/Python_(programming_language)/YbuGqofa">Python</a>, <a href="/facts/Ruby_(programming_language)/BeYSaPSR">Ruby</a>, and <a href="/facts/Perl/fx31kjlT">Perl</a> combine some 4GL abilities within a general-purpose 3GL environment, and <a href="/facts/Library_(computing)/xRzL3P7q">libraries</a> with 4GL-like features have been developed as add-ons for most popular 3GLs, producing languages that are a mix of 3GL and 4GL, blurring the distinction. </p><p>In the 1980s and 1990s, there were efforts to develop <a href="/facts/Fifth-generation_programming_language/fUY9LIt8">fifth-generation programming languages</a> (5GL). </p>