Definition: structured programming

Techniques that impose a logical structure to the coding of a program in order to make it easy to follow. Large routines are broken down into small modules that have to be methodically and carefully nested within each other, because the use of the GOTO statement is either discouraged or not available in the language (see spaghetti code). Structured walkthroughs, which invite criticism from peer programmers, are also used.

Structured languages, such as Pascal, Ada and dBASE, force the programmer to write a structured program; however, all programming languages can be written in a structured manner. See structured English.

Functions Return to the Next Instruction

Structured programming uses functions (routines) that guarantee a return to the instruction following the one that called it. When the function is called, the address in RAM from which it was called is retained. At the end of the function, the Return instruction jumps to the address next in line.