What is COBOL written in?
COBOL is a programming language with English-like syntax, first released in 1959.
Implementation
| Layer | Written in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compiler | Assembly (since 1959) | Early COBOL compilers written in assembly; GnuCOBOL later written in C |
Compiler implementation
The COBOL compiler, written in Assembly, translates COBOL source code into an executable or intermediate format. The choice of implementation language affects the compiler's portability, build-time dependencies, and the path toward COBOL eventually becoming self-hosting.
Many language compilers are written in C or C++ for maximum portability and performance. When a compiler is written in a higher-level language, it can leverage that language's abstractions for clearer compiler code, at the cost of a longer bootstrap dependency chain.
Explore in the Graph
See COBOL's full lineage, including all implementation and influence relationships, in the interactive graph.
Open Interactive Graph →Or view the COBOL language page for the complete record.