# IBM Informix-4GL

> 4GL programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q2816938](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2816938)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informix-4GL)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ibm-informix-4gl

## Summary
IBM Informix-4GL is a 4th-generation programming language (4GL) developed by IBM. Created in 1986, it is classified as a non-procedural language designed to be more user-friendly, allowing users to specify "what" the program should do rather than "how" to do it.

## Key Facts
*   **Developer:** IBM (American multinational technology corporation).
*   **Inception:** 1986.
*   **Classification:** Instance of a 4th-generation programming language and a programming language.
*   **Nature:** Non-procedural and user-friendly; users focus on defining the task ("what") rather than the procedural logic ("how").
*   **Aliases:** 4gl, Informix-4gl.
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID:** sh86002497.
*   **Wikipedia Presence:** Available in 7 languages (including English, French, Polish, Portuguese, and Ukrainian).

## FAQs
### Q: What type of programming language is IBM Informix-4GL?
A: It is a 4th-generation programming language (4GL). This classification indicates it is a non-procedural language designed to be more user-friendly than lower-level languages.

### Q: When was IBM Informix-4GL created?
A: The language was developed and inception occurred in 1986.

### Q: How does a 4th-generation language differ from other programming languages?
A: Unlike procedural languages that require detailed instructions on *how* to solve a problem, 4GLs like Informix-4GL allow users to focus on *what* the result should be, abstracting away complex implementation details.

## Why It Matters
IBM Informix-4GL represents a significant evolution in the history of software development, embodying the shift toward higher-level abstraction in programming. Emerging in the mid-1980s, it addressed the growing need for rapid application development tools that could increase productivity without sacrificing power. By utilizing a non-procedural syntax, it allowed developers and database administrators to define logic based on desired outcomes rather than writing extensive step-by-step code. This approach lowered the barrier to entry for complex data manipulation and helped standardize the concept that programming environments could be both powerful and user-friendly. As a product backed by IBM, it played a role in enterprise computing by streamlining the creation of business applications and database interactions, adhering to the 4GL philosophy of prioritizing the "what" over the "how."

## Notable For
*   **4GL Classification:** Distinct from 3rd-generation languages by focusing on non-procedural, "what-oriented" logic.
*   **User-Friendliness:** Designed specifically to be more accessible and less complex than prior generations of programming tools.
*   **IBM Heritage:** Developed and maintained by one of the world's leading technology corporations.
*   **Longevity:** Has a documented history dating back to 1986 and maintains a presence across multiple global language wikis.

## Body
### Development and Classification
IBM Informix-4GL is a programming language developed by the technology corporation IBM. It falls under the category of **4th-generation programming languages (4GL)**. The language was officially inceptioned in **1986**.

### Technical Characteristics
As a 4GL, Informix-4GL is defined by its non-procedural nature. This design philosophy emphasizes user-friendliness, enabling developers to instruct the machine by defining *what* is needed rather than detailing the procedural steps of *how* to achieve it. This abstraction layer distinguishes it from procedural languages (3GLs) that require more granular control over the computer's hardware and logic steps.

### Identifiers and Recognition
The entity is recognized in several major knowledge and library systems:
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID:** sh86002497 (indexed as of April 2019).
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/01lhrk.
*   **Yale Lux ID:** concept/13c1a5cf-2009-486f-bdbf-3cf2947ad621.
*   **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987007548741205171.

### Aliases and Global Presence
The language is also referred to by the aliases **4gl** and **Informix-4gl**. It has a global footprint evidenced by its Wikipedia articles in seven languages: English, French, Malay, Polish, Portuguese, Ukrainian, and Cantonese (zh_yue).

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File