Structured Programming

Structured programming (sometimes known as modular programming) is a subset of procedural programming that enforces a logical structure on the program being written to make it more efficient and easier to understand and modify. Certain languages such as Ada, Pascal, and dBASE are designed with features that encourage or enforce a logical program structure.

It is a logical programming method that is considered a precursor to object-oriented programming (OOP). Structured programming facilitates program understanding and modification and has a top-down design approach, where a system is divided into compositional subsystems.

Structured programming frequently employs a top-down design model, in which developers map out the overall program structure into separate subsections. A defined function or set of similar functions is coded in a separate module or sub module, which means that code, can be loaded into memory more efficiently and that modules can be reused in other programs. After a module has been tested individually, it is then integrated with other modules into the overall program structure.

Program flow follows a simple hierarchical model that employs looping constructs such as "for," "repeat," and "while." Use of the "Go To" statement is discouraged. Almost any language can use structured programming techniques to avoid common pitfalls of unstructured languages. Unstructured programming must rely upon the discipline of the developer to avoid structural problems, and as a consequence may result in poorly organized programs. Most modern procedural languages include features that encourage structured programming. Object-oriented programming (OOP) can be thought of as a type of structured programming, uses structured programming techniques for program flow, and adds more structure for data to the model.

Advantage of Structured Programming:

• Programs are more easily and more quickly written. Big programming tasks do not remain big programming tasks. They are broken down far enough that each subtask is easy to program as separate unit.
•  Programs have greater reliability. Far fewer organizational and logical errors occur in the initial stages of program development and writing.
• Programs require less time to debug and test because fewer errors are made in writing programs.
• Programs are easier to maintain because the logic of well organized modular program is very easy to follow.