In what sector is COBOL primarily used?

COBOL, which stands for Common Business-Oriented Language, is primarily used in the business and finance sector due to its design and capabilities that cater to business applications. It was developed in the late 1950s with a focus on business data processing. COBOL is particularly well-suited for handling large volumes of data and is famous for its strong support for structured programming, making it ideal for tasks such as payroll processing, transaction processing, and batch processing in financial institutions.

Its enduring presence in legacy systems, particularly in banks, insurance companies, and government agencies, emphasizes its reliability and efficiency in managing and processing financial transactions and large databases. Although there are modern programming languages that serve similar functions today, many existing systems still rely heavily on COBOL due to the cost and complexity associated with overhauling established infrastructure.

In contrast, technology startups often lean towards newer, more popular programming languages that promote rapid development and innovation, such as Python or JavaScript. While healthcare and retail management may use COBOL, it is not as prevalent there as in business and finance. Hence, business and finance is the sector where COBOL is primarily utilized.