In computer programming, a scientific programming language can refer to two degrees of the same concept.
In a wide sense, a scientific programming language is a programming language that is used widely for computational science and computational mathematics. In this sense, C/C++ and Python can be considered scientific programming languages.
In a stronger sense, a scientific programming language is one that is designed and optimized for the use of mathematical formula and matrices.[1] Such languages are characterized not only by the availability of libraries performing mathematical or scientific functions, but by the syntax of the language itself.[2] For example, neither C++ nor Python have built-in matrix types or functions for matrix arithmetic (addition, multiplication etc.); instead, this functionality is made available through standard libraries. Scientific programming languages in the stronger sense include ALGOL, APL, Fortran, J, Julia, Maple, MATLAB, Octave, and R.[3][4]
Scientific programming languages should not be confused with scientific language in general, which refers loosely to the higher standards in precision, correctness and concision expected from practitioners of the scientific method.
- ^ "Definition of scientific language". PC Magazine Encyclopedia. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ "scientific language - Definition of scientific language". YourDictionary. The Computer Language Company Inc. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
- ^ Ning, Andrew. "Scientific Programming Languages". Flight, Optimization, and Wind Laboratory. Brigham Young University. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ Zachary, Joseph. "Introduction to Scientific Programming: Computational Problem Solving Using Maple and C". Joseph L. Zachary. University of Utah. Retrieved 13 May 2021.