Languages

BASIC

Procedural Language

Citation Formats

General Reference

Computing Atlas. "BASIC." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://computing.interactiveatlas.org/languages/basic.

APA Style

Computing Atlas. (n.d.). BASIC. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://computing.interactiveatlas.org/languages/basic

BibTeX

@misc{computingatlas-basic,
  author = {Computing Atlas},
  title = {BASIC},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://computing.interactiveatlas.org/languages/basic},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

BASIC (Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages designed for ease of use. It was created at Dartmouth College so that students outside the sciences could access computing through a time-sharing system, and it went on to become the de facto standard language on early microcomputers and home computers.

Facts

First Released

1964 1

Paradigm

Originally unstructured; later dialects added procedural and object-oriented features. 1

Significance

Designed to give students outside the sciences access to computing at a time when programming required specialists, BASIC became the de facto standard language on early microcomputers and home computers through the 1970s and 1980s. 1

Cross-Tradition Connections

Co-invented with Thomas Kurtz.

Source Wikipedia: John G. Kemeny

Thomas Kurtz

Co-invented with John Kemeny.

Source Wikipedia: Thomas E. Kurtz

Sources

1. Wikipedia: BASIC

Wikimedia FoundationOrigin section

Quote, Origin section

Our vision was that every student on campus should have access to a computer, and any faculty member should be able to use a computer in the classroom whenever appropriate.

View the Source

1. Wikipedia: BASIC

Wikimedia FoundationInfoboxView the Source

1. Wikipedia: BASIC

Wikimedia FoundationInfobox, first appeared dateView the Source

1. Wikipedia: BASIC

Wikimedia FoundationLead paragraphView the Source

1. Wikipedia: BASIC

Wikimedia FoundationIn Field: Software EngineeringView the Source

Wikipedia: Altair 8800

Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Altair 8800, History section, on Microsoft's BASIC interpreterView the Source

Wikipedia: John G. Kemeny