Reserved words
A reserved word is a character-string with a predefined meaning in a COBOL source unit.
The following table identifies words that are reserved in COBOL for Linux® and words that you should avoid because they might be reserved in a future release of COBOL for Linux.
- Words marked X under Reserved are reserved for function implemented in COBOL for Linux. If used as user-defined names, these words are flagged with an S-level message.
- Words marked X under Standard only are 85 COBOL Standard reserved words for function not implemented in COBOL for Linux. Use of these words as user-defined names is flagged with an S-level message.
- Words marked X under Potential reserved words are
words that might be reserved in a future release of COBOL for Linux. IBM® recommends that you not use these words as
user-defined names. Use of these words as user-defined names is flagged
with an I-level message.
This column includes words reserved in the 2002 COBOL Standard.
Word | Reserved | Standard only | Potential reserved words |
---|---|---|---|
+ Arithmetic operator - unary plus or addition | X | ||
- Arithmetic operator - unary minus or subtraction | X | ||
* Arithmetic operator - multiplication | X | ||
/ Arithmetic operator - division | X | ||
** Arithmetic operator - exponentiation | X | ||
> Relational operator - greater than | X | ||
< Relational operator - less than | X | ||
= Relational operator - equal and assignment operator in COMPUTE | X | ||
== Pseudo-text delimiter in COPY and REPLACE statements | X | ||
>= Relational operator - greater than or equal | X | ||
<= Relational operator - less than or equal | X | ||
<> Relational operator - not equal | X | ||
*> Comment indicator | X | ||
>> Compiler directive indicator | X | ||
ACCEPT | X | ||
ACCESS | X | ||
ACTIVE-CLASS | X | ||
ADD | X | ||
ADDRESS | X | ||
ADVANCING | X | ||
AFTER | X | ||
ALIGNED | X | ||
ALL | X | ||
ALLOCATE | X | ||
ALPHABET | X | ||
ALPHABETIC | X | ||
ALPHABETIC-LOWER | X | ||
ALPHABETIC-UPPER | X | ||
ALPHANUMERIC | X | ||
ALPHANUMERIC-EDITED | X | ||
ALSO | X | ||
ALTER | X | ||
ALTERNATE | X | ||
AND | X | ||
ANY | X | ||
ANYCASE | X | ||
APPLY | X | ||
ARE | X | ||
AREA | X | ||
AREAS | X | ||
ASCENDING | X | ||
ASSIGN | X | ||
AT | X | ||
AUTHOR | X | ||
B-AND | X | ||
B-NOT | X | ||
B-OR | X | ||
B-XOR | X | ||
BASED | X | ||
BASIS | X | ||
BEFORE | X | ||
BEGINNING | X | ||
BINARY | X | ||
BINARY-CHAR | X | ||
BINARY-DOUBLE | X | ||
BINARY-LONG | X | ||
BINARY-SHORT | X | ||
BIT | X | ||
BLANK | X | ||
BLOCK | X | ||
BOOLEAN | X | ||
BOTTOM | X | ||
BY | X | ||
CALL | X | ||
CANCEL | X | ||
CBL | X | ||
CD | X | ||
CF | X | ||
CH | X | ||
CHARACTER | X | ||
CHARACTERS | X | ||
CLASS | X | ||
CLASS-ID | X | ||
CLOCK-UNITS | X | ||
CLOSE | X | ||
COBOL | X | ||
CODE | X | ||
CODE-SET | X | ||
COL | X | ||
COLLATING | X | ||
COLS | X | ||
COLUMN | X | ||
COLUMNS | X | ||
COM-REG | X | ||
COMMA | X | ||
COMMON | X | ||
COMMUNICATION | X | ||
COMP | X | ||
COMP-1 | X | ||
COMP-2 | X | ||
COMP-3 | X | ||
COMP-4 | X | ||
COMP-5 | X | ||
COMPUTATIONAL | X | ||
COMPUTATIONAL-1 | X | ||
COMPUTATIONAL-2 | X | ||
COMPUTATIONAL-3 | X | ||
COMPUTATIONAL-4 | X | ||
COMPUTATIONAL-5 | X | ||
COMPUTE | X | ||
CONDITION | X | ||
CONFIGURATION | X | ||
CONSTANT | X | ||
CONTAINS | X | ||
CONTENT | X | ||
CONTINUE | X | ||
CONTROL | X | ||
CONTROLS | X | ||
CONVERTING | X | ||
COPY | X | ||
CORR | X | ||
CORRESPONDING | X | ||
COUNT | X | ||
CRT | X | ||
CURRENCY | X | ||
CURSOR | X | ||
DATA | X | ||
DATA-POINTER | X | ||
DATE | X | ||
DATE-COMPILED | X | ||
DATE-WRITTEN | X | ||
DAY | X | ||
DAY-OF-WEEK | X | ||
DBCS | X | ||
DE | X | ||
DEBUG-CONTENTS | X | ||
DEBUG-ITEM | X | ||
DEBUG-LINE | X | ||
DEBUG-NAME | X | ||
DEBUG-SUB-1 | X | ||
DEBUG-SUB-2 | X | ||
DEBUG-SUB-3 | X | ||
DEBUGGING | X | ||
DECIMAL-POINT | X | ||
DECLARATIVES | X | ||
DEFAULT | X | ||
DELETE | X | ||
DELIMITED | X | ||
DELIMITER | X | ||
DEPENDING | X | ||
DESCENDING | X | ||
DESTINATION | X | ||
DETAIL | X | ||
DISABLE | X | ||
DISPLAY | X | ||
DISPLAY-1 | X | ||
DIVIDE | X | ||
DIVISION | X | ||
DOWN | X | ||
DUPLICATES | X | ||
DYNAMIC | X | ||
EC | X | ||
EGCS | X | ||
EGI | X | ||
EJECT | X | ||
ELSE | X | ||
EMI | X | ||
ENABLE | X | ||
END | X | ||
END-ACCEPT | X | ||
END-ACCEPT | X | ||
END-ADD | X | ||
END-CALL | X | ||
END-COMPUTE | X | ||
END-DELETE | X | ||
END-DISPLAY | X | ||
END-DIVIDE | X | ||
END-EVALUATE | X | ||
END-EXEC | X | ||
END-IF | X | ||
END-INVOKE | X | ||
END-JSON | X | ||
END-MULTIPLY | X | ||
END-OF-PAGE | X | ||
END-PERFORM | X | ||
END-READ | X | ||
END-RECEIVE | X | ||
END-RETURN | X | ||
END-REWRITE | X | ||
END-SEARCH | X | ||
END-START | X | ||
END-STRING | X | ||
END-SUBTRACT | X | ||
END-UNSTRING | X | ||
END-WRITE | X | ||
END-XML | X | ||
ENDING | X | ||
ENTER | X | ||
ENTRY | X | ||
ENVIRONMENT | X | ||
EO | X | ||
EOP | X | ||
EQUAL | X | ||
ERROR | X | ||
ESI | X | ||
EVALUATE | X | ||
EVERY | X | ||
EXCEPTION | X | ||
EXCEPTION-OBJECT | X | ||
EXEC | X | ||
EXECUTE | X | ||
EXIT | X | ||
EXTEND | X | ||
EXTERNAL | X | ||
FACTORY | X | ||
FALSE | X | ||
FD | X | ||
FILE | X | ||
FILE-CONTROL | X | ||
FILLER | X | ||
FINAL | X | ||
FIRST | X | ||
FLOAT-EXTENDED | X | ||
FLOAT-LONG | X | ||
FLOAT-SHORT | X | ||
FOOTING | X | ||
FOR | X | ||
FORMAT | X | ||
FREE | X | ||
FROM | X | ||
FUNCTION | X | ||
FUNCTION-ID | X | ||
FUNCTION-POINTER | X | ||
GENERATE | X | ||
GET | X | ||
GIVING | X | ||
GLOBAL | X | ||
GO | X | ||
GOBACK | X | ||
GREATER | X | ||
GROUP | X | ||
GROUP-USAGE | X | ||
HEADING | X | ||
HIGH-VALUE | X | ||
HIGH-VALUES | X | ||
I-O | X | ||
I-O-CONTROL | X | ||
ID | X | ||
IDENTIFICATION | X | ||
IF | X | ||
IN | X | ||
INDEX | X | ||
INDEXED | X | ||
INDICATE | X | ||
INHERITS | X | ||
INITIAL | X | ||
INITIALIZE | X | ||
INITIATE | X | ||
INPUT | X | ||
INPUT-OUTPUT | X | ||
INSERT | X | ||
INSPECT | X | ||
INSTALLATION | X | ||
INTERFACE | X | ||
INTERFACE-ID | X | ||
INTO | X | ||
INVALID | X | ||
INVOKE | X | ||
IS | X | ||
JSON-CODE | X | ||
JUST | X | ||
JUSTIFIED | X | ||
KANJI | X | ||
KEY | X | ||
LABEL | X | ||
LAST | X | ||
LEADING | X | ||
LEFT | X | ||
LENGTH | X | ||
LESS | X | ||
LIMIT | X | ||
LIMITS | X | ||
LINAGE | X | ||
LINAGE-COUNTER | X | ||
LINE | X | ||
LINE-COUNTER | X | ||
LINES | X | ||
LINKAGE | X | ||
LOCAL-STORAGE | X | ||
LOCALE | X | ||
LOCK | X | ||
LOW-VALUE | X | ||
LOW-VALUES | X | ||
MEMORY | X | ||
MERGE | X | ||
MESSAGE | X | ||
METHOD | X | ||
METHOD-ID | X | ||
MINUS | X | ||
MODE | X | ||
MODULES | X | ||
MORE-LABELS | X | ||
MOVE | X | ||
MULTIPLE | X | ||
MULTIPLY | X | ||
NATIONAL | X | ||
NATIONAL-EDITED | X | ||
NATIVE | X | ||
NEGATIVE | X | ||
NESTED | X | ||
NEXT | X | ||
NO | X | ||
NOT | X | ||
NULL | X | ||
NULLS | X | ||
NUMBER | X | ||
NUMERIC | X | ||
NUMERIC-EDITED | X | ||
OBJECT | X | ||
OBJECT-COMPUTER | X | ||
OBJECT-REFERENCE | X | ||
OCCURS | X | ||
OF | X | ||
OFF | X | ||
OMITTED | X | ||
ON | X | ||
OPEN | X | ||
OPTIONAL | X | ||
OPTIONS | X | ||
OR | X | ||
ORDER | X | ||
ORGANIZATION | X | ||
OTHER | X | ||
OUTPUT | X | ||
OVERFLOW | X | ||
OVERRIDE | X | ||
PACKED-DECIMAL | X | ||
PADDING | X | ||
PAGE | X | ||
PAGE-COUNTER | X | ||
PASSWORD | X | ||
PERFORM | X | ||
PF | X | ||
PH | X | ||
PIC | X | ||
PICTURE | X | ||
PLUS | X | ||
POINTER | X | ||
POSITION | X | ||
POSITIVE | X | ||
PRESENT | X | ||
PRINTING | X | ||
PROCEDURE | X | ||
PROCEDURE-POINTER | X | ||
PROCEDURES | X | ||
PROCEED | X | ||
PROCESSING | X | ||
PROGRAM | X | ||
PROGRAM-ID | X | ||
PROGRAM-POINTER | X | ||
PROPERTY | X | ||
PROTOTYPE | X | ||
PURGE | X | ||
QUEUE | X | ||
QUOTE | X | ||
QUOTES | X | ||
RAISE | X | ||
RAISING | X | ||
RANDOM | X | ||
RD | X | ||
READ | X | ||
READY | X | ||
RECEIVE | X | ||
RECORD | X | ||
RECORDING | X | ||
RECORDS | X | ||
RECURSIVE | X | ||
REDEFINES | X | ||
REEL | X | ||
REFERENCE | X | ||
REFERENCES | X | ||
RELATIVE | X | ||
RELEASE | X | ||
RELOAD | X | ||
REMAINDER | X | ||
REMOVAL | X | ||
RENAMES | X | ||
REPLACE | X | ||
REPLACING | X | ||
REPORT | X | ||
REPORTING | X | ||
REPORTS | X | ||
REPOSITORY | X | ||
RERUN | X | ||
RESERVE | X | ||
RESET | X | ||
RESUME | X | ||
RETRY | X | ||
RETURN | X | ||
RETURN-CODE | X | ||
RETURNING | X | ||
REVERSED | X | ||
REWIND | X | ||
REWRITE | X | ||
RF | X | ||
RH | X | ||
RIGHT | X | ||
ROUNDED | X | ||
RUN | X | ||
SAME | X | ||
SCREEN | X | ||
SD | X | ||
SEARCH | X | ||
SECTION | X | ||
SECURITY | X | ||
SEGMENT | X | ||
SEGMENT-LIMIT | X | ||
SELECT | X | ||
SELF | X | ||
SEND | X | ||
SENTENCE | X | ||
SEPARATE | X | ||
SEQUENCE | X | ||
SEQUENTIAL | X | ||
SERVICE | X | ||
SET | X | ||
SHARING | X | ||
SHIFT-IN | X | ||
SHIFT-OUT | X | ||
SIGN | X | ||
SIZE | X | ||
SKIP1 | X | ||
SKIP2 | X | ||
SKIP3 | X | ||
SORT | X | ||
SORT-CONTROL | X | ||
SORT-CORE-SIZE | X | ||
SORT-FILE-SIZE | X | ||
SORT-MERGE | X | ||
SORT-MESSAGE | X | ||
SORT-MODE-SIZE | X | ||
SORT-RETURN | X | ||
SOURCE | X | ||
SOURCE | X | ||
SOURCE-COMPUTER | X | ||
SOURCES | X | ||
SPACE | X | ||
SPACES | X | ||
SPECIAL-NAMES | X | ||
SQL | X | ||
SQLIMS | X | ||
STANDARD | X | ||
STANDARD-1 | X | ||
STANDARD-2 | X | ||
START | X | ||
STATUS | X | ||
STOP | X | ||
STRING | X | ||
SUB-QUEUE-1 | X | ||
SUB-QUEUE-2 | X | ||
SUB-QUEUE-3 | X | ||
SUBTRACT | X | ||
SUM | X | ||
SUPER | X | ||
SUPPRESS | X | ||
SYMBOLIC | X | ||
SYNC | X | ||
SYNCHRONIZED | X | ||
SYSTEM-DEFAULT | X | ||
TABLE | X | ||
TALLY | X | ||
TALLYING | X | ||
TAPE | X | ||
TERMINAL | X | ||
TERMINATE | X | ||
TEST | X | ||
TEXT | X | ||
THAN | X | ||
THEN | X | ||
THROUGH | X | ||
THRU | X | ||
TIME | X | ||
TIMES | X | ||
TITLE | X | ||
TO | X | ||
TOP | X | ||
TRACE | X | ||
TRAILING | X | ||
TRUE | X | ||
TYPE | X | ||
TYPEDEF | X | ||
UNIT | X | ||
UNIVERSAL | X | ||
UNLOCK | X | ||
UNSTRING | X | ||
UNTIL | X | ||
UP | X | ||
UPON | X | ||
USAGE | X | ||
USE | X | ||
USER-DEFAULT | X | ||
USING | X | ||
VAL-STATUS | X | ||
VALID | X | ||
VALIDATE | X | ||
VALIDATE-STATUS | X | ||
VALUE | X | ||
VALUES | X | ||
VARYING | X | ||
WHEN | X | ||
WHEN-COMPILED | X | ||
WITH | X | ||
WORDS | X | ||
WORKING-STORAGE | X | ||
WRITE | X | ||
WRITE-ONLY | X | ||
XML | X | ||
XML-CODE | X | ||
XML-EVENT | X | ||
XML-NTEXT | X | ||
XML-SCHEMA | X | ||
XML-TEXT | X | ||
ZERO | X | ||
ZEROES | X | ||
ZEROS | X |