title: What is the difference between fixed format languages and free format languages?
body: <p>While studying the principles of programming languages, I have seen that we can categorise programming languages as "free format" or "fixed format". For example, Java and C are free format languages, whereas RPG is a fixed format language. But I don't know what are the meanings of these two terms, or how tell which category a given language is in. I have searched on Google and am unable to get a meaningful idea.</p>
  
  <p>This is mentioned in my lecture slide:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
  <pre><code>int  a = 0
  </code></pre>
    
    <p>In Java and C, this interpretation  is based on syntax. These kind of languages are called as <strong>free format</strong>. But in RPG, this semantic is based on how we take these different components with the layout. These kind of languages are called as <strong>fixed format</strong>.</p>
  </blockquote>