# coarray Fortran

> programming extension for parallel processing

**Wikidata**: [Q1104016](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1104016)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coarray_Fortran)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/coarray-fortran

## Summary
Coarray Fortran is a programming extension for Fortran designed specifically for parallel processing. It enables Fortran programmers to write parallel code using a simple, language-integrated syntax without relying on external libraries.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: Created in 1990.
- **Aliases**: Also known as co-array Fortran, CAF, and F--.
- **Instance of**: Classified as a parallel programming language.
- **Dialect of**: Fortran.
- **Programming Paradigm**: Multi-paradigm programming.
- **Manifestation of**: Implements the partitioned global address space (PGAS) model.
- **Wikidata ID**: /m/03n057.
- **Wikipedia Title**: Coarray Fortran (available in de, en, ja, uk).
- **Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued)**: 2780251322.

## FAQs
### Q: What is coarray Fortran used for?
A: Coarray Fortran is used for writing parallel programs in Fortran. It provides a language extension that simplifies parallel programming by allowing direct access to distributed data and synchronization constructs within the Fortran language itself.

### Q: How does coarray Fortran differ from standard Fortran?
A: Coarray Fortran extends standard Fortran by adding coarrays, which are abstract arrays distributed across multiple images (processes). This allows programmers to write parallel code using language syntax rather than external parallel libraries.

### Q: What programming paradigm does coarray Fortran follow?
A: Coarray Fortran follows a multi-paradigm programming approach, combining Fortran's traditional strengths with parallel programming constructs based on the partitioned global address space (PGAS) model.

### Q: When was coarray Fortran first introduced?
A: Coarray Fortran was first introduced in 1990 as a programming extension for parallel processing.

## Why It Matters
Coarray Fortran matters because it provides a native, standardized way for Fortran programmers to leverage parallel computing power without leaving the language or adopting complex external frameworks. Its integration of PGAS concepts directly into Fortran syntax lowers the barrier to entry for parallel programming in a language historically dominant in high-performance computing (HPC) and scientific domains. This simplification enables developers to write more maintainable and portable parallel code, facilitating the development of complex simulations and large-scale scientific applications. Its inclusion in modern Fortran standards (e.g., Fortran 2008) solidifies its role as a significant tool in the HPC ecosystem.

## Notable For
- **Pioneering Fortran Parallel Extension**: One of the earliest language-integrated parallel programming extensions specifically designed for Fortran (inception: 1990).
- **PGAS Implementation**: A direct manifestation of the partitioned global address space (PGAS) programming model within a major scientific computing language.
- **Multi-Paradigm Approach**: Combines Fortran's established procedural and array paradigms with explicit parallel programming constructs.
- **Language Standardization**: Recognized and incorporated into official Fortran language standards (e.g., Fortran 2008 and later).
- **Simplified Parallel Syntax**: Provides a relatively straightforward syntax for parallel operations compared to many external parallel library approaches.

## Body
### Overview
Coarray Fortran is a programming extension for Fortran, created in 1990, specifically designed to enable parallel processing. It is classified as a parallel programming language and is a dialect of Fortran.

### Technical Classification
- **Instance of**: Parallel programming language.
- **Dialect of**: Fortran.
- **Programming Paradigm**: Multi-paradigm programming.
- **Manifestation of**: Partitioned global address space (PGAS).

### Identity and Recognition
- **Aliases**: Coarray Fortran, CAF, F--.
- **Wikidata ID**: /m/03n057.
- **Wikipedia Title**: Coarray Fortran (available in German, English, Japanese, Ukrainian).
- **Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued)**: 2780251322.
- **Sitelink Count**: 4 (indicating presence on 4 Wikimedia sites).

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013