subroutine

sub·rou·tine

S0849700 (sŭb′ro͞o-tēn′)n. Computers A set of instructions that performs a specific task for a main routine, requiring direction back to the proper place in the main routine on completion of the task.

subroutine

(ˈsʌbruːˌtiːn) n (Computer Science) a section of a computer program that is stored only once but can be used when required at several different points in the program, thus saving space. Also called: procedure

sub•rou•tine

(ˈsʌb ruˌtin)

n. an instruction sequence that a programmer can insert into a computer program as needed. [1945–50]

Thesaurus

Noun

subroutine - a set sequence of steps, part of larger computer programsubprogram, procedure, routine, functionsoftware, software package, software program, software system, computer software, package - (computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory; "the market for software is expected to expand"computer program, computer programme, programme, program - (computer science) a sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute; "the program required several hundred lines of code"cataloged procedure - a set of control statements that have been placed in a library and can be retrieved by namecontingency procedure - an alternative to the normal procedure; triggered if an unusual but anticipated situation ariseslibrary routine - a debugged routine that is maintained in a program libraryrandom number generator - a routine designed to yield a random numberrecursive routine - a routine that can call itselfreusable routine - a routine that can be loaded once and executed repeatedlyexecutive routine, supervisory routine - a routine that coordinates the operation of subroutinestracing routine - a routine that provides a chronological record of the execution of a computer programservice routine, utility routine - a routine that can be used as needed

Translations

subroutine

a section of a computer program that is stored only once but can be used when required at several different points in the program, thus saving space

Subroutine

the part of a computer program that is used to solve similar-type problems. A subroutine usually describes a separate step in the computation process and can be used more than once in one or several different programs. Typical subroutines are used to compute elementary functions, such as sin x, In x, and e-^x, to solve systems of equations, and to remove the results of computations in various forms. If it becomes necessary to use the subroutine during the running of the basic program, the subroutine is called at the appropriate place in the program, and after it has been run, control is transferred back to the main program. A subroutine can call on another.

A subroutine should have the following characteristics: it should be subject to standardized access rules that make it possible to call the subroutine from the main program by means of one or more instructions; it should be able to work with a broad range of initial data, for example, independent variables of a function; it should be relocatable, that is, it should be possible to place and run it in various parts of the computer memory. Subroutines are often arranged in subroutine libraries. So-called standard subroutines satisfying rigid conditions are used in automatic programming.

The use of subroutines is one way to save time and effort in writing computer programs. Subroutines form the basis of modular programming.

REFERENCE

Lavrov, S. S. Vvedenie v programmirovanie. Moscow, 1973. (Bibliography.)

A. V. GUSEV

subroutine

[′səb·rü‚tēn] (computer science) A body of computer instruction (and the associated constants and working-storage areas, if any) designed to be used by other routines to accomplish some particular purpose. A statement in FORTRAN used to define the beginning of a closed subroutine (first definition).

subroutine

(programming)(Or "procedure") A sequence of instructionsfor performing a particular task. Most programming languages,including most machine languages, allow the programmer todefine subroutines. This allows the subroutine code to becalled from multiple places, even from within itself (in whichcase it is called recursive). The programming languageimplementation takes care of returning control to (just after)the calling location, usually with the support of call andreturn instructions at machine language level.

Most languages also allow arguments to be passed to thesubroutine, and one, or occasionally more, return values tobe passed back.

A function is often very similar to a subroutine, the maindifference being that it is called chiefly for its returnvalue, rather than for any side effects.

subroutine

A group of instructions that perform a specific task. A large subroutine might be called a "module" or "procedure." Subroutine is somewhat of a dated term, but it is still quite valid.

subroutine

noun

Synonyms for subroutine

noun a set sequence of steps, part of larger computer program

Synonyms

subprogram
procedure
routine
function

Related Words

software
software package
software program
software system
computer software
package
computer program
computer programme
programme
program
cataloged procedure
contingency procedure
library routine
random number generator
recursive routine
reusable routine
executive routine
supervisory routine
tracing routine
service routine
utility routine