Computers and Computing

Gale Encyclopedia of E-Commerce A Dictionary of Computing The Oxford Pocket Dictionary... The Columbia Encyclopedia,... Further reading

Fortran

A Dictionary of Computing | 2004 | | Copyright

Fortran (or FORTRAN) Acronym for formula translation. A programming language widely used for scientific computation. The first version, Fortran I, was issued by IBM in 1956, to be succeeded by Fortran II in 1958. This in turn was succeeded by Fortran IV, also known as Fortran 66 when it was standardized by ANSI. This became the workhorse of the scientific world until it was replaced by Fortran 77. This version retained the flavor of the original Fortran but introduced some more modern concepts as a gesture towards structured programming. The latest version, Fortran 90, appeared after long and acrimonious discussion, and incorporates a large number of new capabilities. It incorporates most of the concepts and facilities of modern languages, though not always expressed in the most elegant manner.

Fortran programs use a notation strongly reminiscent of algebra (hence formula translation), and it is thus fairly easy for the scientist to specify a computation. Fortran II introduced the important idea of independent compilation of subroutines, making it possible to establish libraries of scientific subroutines. The efficient code produced by the early Fortran compilers did much to ensure the acceptance of high-level languages as a normal mode of use of computers.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

JOHN DAINTITH. "Fortran." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN DAINTITH. "Fortran." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-Fortran.html

JOHN DAINTITH. "Fortran." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-Fortran.html

Learn more about citation styles

Fortran

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

For·tran / ˈfôrˌtran/ (also FORTRAN) • n. a high-level computer programming language used esp. for scientific computation.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Fortran." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Fortran." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-fortran.html

"Fortran." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-fortran.html

Learn more about citation styles

FORTRAN

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

FORTRAN see programming language .

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"FORTRAN." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"FORTRAN." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-FORTRAN.html

"FORTRAN." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-FORTRAN.html

Learn more about citation styles

Fortran

The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations | 1998 | | Copyright

Fortran (or FORTRAN) (ˈfɔːtræn) Computing formula translation (a programming language)

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "Fortran." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "Fortran." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-Fortran.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	FORTRAN rebirth: FORTRAN gets a facelift for the '90s. (includes related... Magazine article from: Computer Shopper; 6/1/1995
	Fortran's fold sends creditors to court. Magazine article from: Crain's Cleveland Business; 6/17/2002
	PGI Optimizing Fortran Compiler aids HPC application development.(The... Magazine article from: Product News Network; 7/21/2010