# PL360

> programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q7119559](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7119559)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PL360)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/pl360

## Summary
PL360 is a procedural programming language created in 1966 by the Swiss computer scientist Niklaus Wirth. It is characterized by its adherence to structured, imperative programming paradigms and utilizes a static and strong typing discipline.

## Key Facts
*   **Inception:** The language was developed in 1966.
*   **Creator:** Attributed to Niklaus Wirth, a Swiss computer scientist, engineer, and programmer (1934–2024).
*   **Also Known As:** PL/360.
*   **Classification:** It is an instance of a programming language.
*   **Paradigms:** Supports procedural, imperative, and structured programming.
*   **Typing Discipline:** Features static typing and strong typing.
*   **Library of Congress ID:** sh85102556.

## FAQs
### Q: Who created the PL360 programming language?
A: PL360 was created by Niklaus Wirth, a prominent Swiss computer scientist born in 1934 who is also known for his work as an engineer and programmer.

### Q: What type of programming paradigm does PL360 use?
A: PL360 utilizes procedural, imperative, and structured programming paradigms.

### Q: What are the typing characteristics of PL360?
A: The language employs a typing discipline that is both static and strong.

### Q: When was PL360 developed?
A: PL360 was developed in 1966.

## Why It Matters
PL360 holds significance in the history of computer science as a work by Niklaus Wirth, a pivotal figure in the field who passed away in 2024. Representing a stage in the evolution of programming languages during the mid-1960s, it embodies the shift toward structured programming, a discipline that Wirth championed throughout his career. By implementing static and strong typing, the language aimed to provide robust error checking and efficient execution, reflecting the engineering rigor of its era. PL360 serves as an example of the early development of high-level languages designed to communicate instructions to machines while maintaining strict structural discipline.

## Notable For
*   **Structured Programming:** It is an early example of a language explicitly categorized under structured programming.
*   **Niklaus Wirth:** It is a notable entry in the bibliography of Niklaus Wirth, a recipient of various accolades and a central figure in software engineering.
*   **Typing Discipline:** Distinguished by its combination of static and strong typing, contrasting with the looser typing of some contemporaneous languages.
*   **Historical Context:** Created in 1966, it represents the rapid innovation in programming language design during that decade.

## Body
### Origin and Authorship
PL360 is a programming language introduced in 1966. It is attributed to Niklaus Wirth, a Swiss computer scientist whose career spanned several decades (1934–2024). Wirth, who also worked as an engineer and programmer, is a central figure associated with the language's development.

### Technical Classification
The language is strictly defined as a programming language designed for communicating instructions to a machine. It operates within several programming paradigms:
*   **Procedural Programming:** It follows a procedural model of execution.
*   **Imperative Programming:** It uses statements to change a program's state.
*   **Structured Programming:** It employs structured control flow patterns.

### Typing and Syntax
PL360 enforces a specific typing discipline characterized as:
*   **Static Typing:** Type checking is performed at compile-time rather than run-time.
*   **Strong Typing:** It enforces strict rules on the mixing of different data types.

### Identifiers and Cataloging
The entity is cataloged in several major databases and libraries under specific identifiers:
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID:** sh85102556
*   **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987007550806005171
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/03nt42b
*   **Microsoft Academic ID:** 2779961716 (discontinued service)

The language is referenced across multiple Wikipedia language editions, including English, Korean, Ukrainian, and Chinese.

## References

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