# Compiler Description Language

> programming language based on affix grammars

**Wikidata**: [Q5156377](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5156377)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compiler_Description_Language)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/compiler-description-language

## Summary
Compiler Description Language (CDL) is a programming language created in 1971 that is based on affix grammars. As a formal language classified under the broad category of programming languages, it serves to communicate instructions to a machine.

## Key Facts
- **Aliases:** CDL
- **Inception:** 1971
- **Instance of:** Programming language
- **Technical Basis:** Affix grammars
- **Wikipedia Languages:** Available in English (en), Persian (fa), and Dutch (nl)
- **Sitelink Count:** 3
- **Freebase ID:** /m/02q0s7p
- **Microsoft Academic ID:** 2779578502 (discontinued)
- **Wikidata Description:** Programming language based on affix grammars

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Compiler Description Language (CDL)?
A: CDL is a programming language defined by its use of affix grammars. It was developed in 1971 and functions as a formal language for communicating instructions to computers.

### Q: When was CDL created?
A: The Compiler Description Language was inceptioned in 1971.

### Q: How is CDL classified within computer science?
A: CDL is an instance of a programming language. This places it within the domain of computer science as a tool for controlling computer behavior and processing data.

## Why It Matters
Compiler Description Language represents a specific historical and technical approach to language design within the broader field of computer science. By utilizing affix grammars—a formalism for describing context-free languages—CDL contributes to the theoretical and practical foundation of how machines process syntax and semantics. Its existence in 1971 places it among the early structured languages developed during a pivotal era of formal language theory expansion. As a programming language, it shares the fundamental purpose of enabling humans to instruct machines with precision, a core requirement for all software development and computational problem-solving.

## Notable For
- Being a distinct **programming language** based on **affix grammars**.
- Its **inception in 1971**, marking it as a historical entity in the timeline of computer language development.
- Acting as a specific instance of the broader **programming language** class, which includes diverse paradigms like imperative, functional, and logic-based languages.
- Having digital identifiers across multiple knowledge bases, including Freebase and Microsoft Academic.

## Body
### Definition and Technical Foundation
The Compiler Description Language (CDL) is a formal language designed for instructing machines, specifically classified as a programming language. Its defining characteristic is that it is based on **affix grammars**, a type of formal grammar used to define the syntax and context of programming languages.

### History and Origin
According to structured data references, CDL was created in **1971**. This places its development during a period of significant evolution in computer science, where formal language theory was being actively applied to create more robust compilers and language processors.

### Classification and Context
CDL is an **instance of a programming language**. In the context of computer science, a programming language is a formal language used to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly computers.
- **Structure:** Like other programming languages, CDL theoretically encompasses components such as syntax (rules defining valid code structure) and semantics (meaning behind syntactic constructs).
- **Domain:** It falls under the discipline of **programming language theory**, which involves the design, implementation, and analysis of languages.
- **Paradigms:** While CDL is defined by its grammar type, the broader class of programming languages it belongs to supports various paradigms, including imperative, functional, logic, and object-oriented programming.

### Identifiers and Documentation
The entity is tracked across several academic and knowledge platforms:
- **Wikidata:** Described as a "programming language based on affix grammars."
- **Wikipedia:** Titled "Compiler Description Language" with articles in three languages: English (en), Persian (fa), and Dutch (nl), reflecting a sitelink count of 3.
- **Legacy IDs:** It holds the Freebase ID `/m/02q0s7p` and Microsoft Academic ID `2779578502` (note: Microsoft Academic has been discontinued).