computer language
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Also known as: 4GL
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
fourth-generation language (4GL), computer programming language that is intended to be easier for users than machine languages (first-generation), assembly languages (second-generation), and the older high-level languages (third-generation). 4GLs are closer to human language than other high-level languages and are accessible to people without formal training as programmers. They allow multiple common operations to be performed with a single programmer-entered command. 4GLs are usually not general-purpose languages like third-generation languages such as C and C++ are but instead are usually designed for a specific purpose, as in the case of SQL, which works with databases.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Erik Gregersen.
