What Does Block Mean?
A
block is a section of software code or an algorithm in
software programming. A block can consist of one or more statements or
declarations. It is possible for a block to contain one or more blocks
nested within it. If a programming language comprises blocks and nested blocks, it
is called a block-structured programming language. Blocks are a basic
feature of structured programming and help form control structures. However,
it is not necessary to add blocks in software code; blocks should be
driven by necessity. At the same
time, blocks can improve code efficiency.
A
block is also known as a code block.
Techopedia Explains Block
The
main utility of blocks is to allow the entire section of code
containing the block to be treated as a single piece of code, and that
offers a number of advantages. The biggest advantage is that it helps avoid confusion
if the same variables are defined in a different place in the same code. Since
the variables are defined within a code block but it is not treated
independently, but rather as a single piece of code, there is no confusion over
the presence of variables in other places. In other words, blocks help
reduce the lexical scope of the variables, functions and procedures stored in
other places.
Blocks use different syntax in different places. Code blocks can be of two
types broadly: the ALGOL family and the C family.
