When you use a third generation language to perform a task you need to provide a detail description of how this task should be carried out. For very narrow domains (specific areas) fourth generation programming languages have been developed, where you only needed to describe what is required. The most famous example of a fourth generation language is the Structured Query Language (SQL) which is used with databases.
Using SQL you can retrieve data from a database in different formats for various conditions just by specifying the headings you need, where they are stored (tables), and the conditions.
Fig 4.3 compares the differences when instructing a computer using SQL and Visual Basic (Third Generation Language) to retrieve data from a database. The example prints a list of students who have obtained an Avg above 75 from a database. In the Visual Basic example you are required to write all the details on how the data should be retrieved. In the SQL example only the requirements need to be specified.
Third Generation vs Fourth Generation
Fifth Generation Computer Languages
Computer Languages which are related to Artificial Intelligence e.g. Prolog is an example of Fifth Generation Languages. Prolog is used to develop Expert Systems.
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