data division

noun

The part of a COBOL program in which the format and layout of external files and databases, and internally-used variables and constants are defined

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Meanings

noundata division (plural data divisions)

plural data divisions

  1. computingThe part of a COBOL program in which the format and layout of external files and databases, and internally-used variables and constants are defined

    We use the data division to control the definition of these fields.

    2002, Earl H. Parsons, Structured Programming with COBOL Examples
    2 more examples

    The data division is that portion of the program set aside to identify explicitly all the format characteristics of data received by the program, created within the program, and produced as output.

    1971, Allen Kent, Harold Lancour, Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science

    It is best to define the variables within the data division before writing the procedure division.

    1997, Peter Groves, Sourcebook on intellectual property law
Cite this entry
APA

data division. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/data%20division

MLA

“data division.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/data%20division. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “data division,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/data%20division.

Source: data division on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.