Procedure-oriented programming (POP):- This is a top-down programming approach, where the problem is viewed as a sequence of tasks to be done such as calculating, printing etc. A number of functions are written to accomplish these tasks and usually the primary focus is on functions. The technique of hierarchical decomposition is used to specify the tasks to be completed for solving a problem.

Normally a flowchart or pseudocode is used to organize these actions and represent the flow of control from one action to another. Generally POP concentrates on the development of functions, giving very little attention to the data that is used by the various functions.

In a multi-function program, many important data items are placed as global so that they may be accessed by all the functions. Each function may have its own local data. The diagram below shows the relationship of data and functions in a procedure-oriented program.