Imperative Programming

Imperative Programming is a programming paradigm where instructions are given to the computer to perform specific tasks in a defined sequence. It emphasizes how something is done, breaking down tasks into explicit steps. This contrasts with declarative programming, which focuses more on what to achieve rather than detailing the process.

Key Features

• Step-by-Step Execution: Programs are structured as sequences of commands or statements.
• State Changes: The state of the program changes as instructions are executed, often involving variables and control flow constructs.
• Control Structures: It relies heavily on loops (for, while), conditionals (if, else), and explicit manipulation of memory.
• Examples of Languages: Popular imperative languages include C, Java, Python, and Assembly.

Pros and Cons

Advantages

• Easy to understand and implement for smaller tasks.
• Close to machine-level instructions, making it efficient and suitable for performance-critical applications.

Disadvantages

• Can become complex and harder to manage for large-scale systems.
• The explicit state manipulation makes debugging and maintenance challenging.