In Programming:
* Declarative programming: A programming paradigm where you describe *what* you want the program to do, rather than *how* to do it. This contrasts with imperative programming, which focuses on step-by-step instructions. Examples of declarative languages include SQL (for querying databases), HTML (for structuring web pages), and Prolog (for logical programming).
* Declarative statement: A statement that describes a desired outcome or state, without specifying how to achieve it. For example, in a programming language, a declaration like `let name = "John";` defines a variable named "name" and assigns it the value "John", but doesn't specify how to store this information in memory.
In Linguistics:
* Declarative sentence: A sentence that states a fact or opinion. It typically has a subject and a predicate and is often marked by a period at the end. For example, "The sky is blue."
In General Usage:
* Declarative statement: A statement that makes a clear and direct assertion. It can be used to express an opinion, fact, or intention. For example, "I'm going to the store."
Key characteristics of declarative approaches:
* Focus on what: They describe the desired result, not the specific steps to achieve it.
* Abstraction: They hide the underlying implementation details, allowing users to work at a higher level of abstraction.
* Non-procedural: They don't dictate the order of operations.
* Data-driven: They often work by manipulating data structures.
Examples:
* Declarative programming: In SQL, you write a query like `SELECT * FROM customers WHERE city = 'New York';` to retrieve all customers living in New York City. You don't need to specify how the database should search for those customers.
* Declarative sentence: "The cat is on the mat." This sentence states a fact without explaining how the cat got there.
* Declarative statement: "I'm going to eat dinner now." This statement asserts the speaker's intention without describing the steps involved in preparing or eating dinner.
The term "declarative" emphasizes intent and description over detailed instructions or procedures.