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fourth-generation language Last modified: Friday, November 21, 2003

Often abbreviated 4GL, fourth-generation languages are programming languages closer to human languages than typical high-level programming languages. Most 4GLs are used to access databases. For example, a typical 4GL command is FIND ALL RECORDS WHERE NAME IS "SMITH" The other four generations of computer languages are first generation: machine language second generation: assembly language third generation: high-level programming languages, such as C, C++, and Java. fifth generation: languages used for artificial intelligence and neural networks.

Article on learning fourth-generation languages Article by James Elliot entitled, "The Paradoxes and Advantages of Using Fourth Generation Languages," that provides descriptions of the nature of the language and expertise, and mastering the 4GL. (July 1995)