Learn Algol - 10 Code Examples & CST Typing Practice Test
ALGOL (Algorithmic Language) is a family of high-level programming languages designed for scientific computations and algorithm description, known for its structured programming features and influence on modern languages like Pascal, C, and Java.
Learn ALGOL with Real Code Examples
Updated Nov 20, 2025
Learning Path
Learn basic syntax: begin…end, variables
Practice procedures and parameter passing
Understand control statements and loops
Work on arrays and recursion
Study historical ALGOL programs and papers
Skill Improvement Plan
Week 1: Syntax and variables
Week 2: Procedures and blocks
Week 3: Loops and recursion
Week 4: Arrays and numerical examples
Interview Questions
What is ALGOL used for?
Explain block structure in ALGOL
What is call by name vs call by value?
How are procedures defined?
Why is ALGOL historically important?
Cheat Sheet
begin ... end - block structure
procedure name(parameters);
for i := 1 step 1 until n do ...
if condition then ... else ...
array[n] of type
Books
Programming Languages: History and Fundamentals
The ALGOL 60 Programming Language
ALGOL 68: A Survey
Algorithmic Language Design and History
Structured Programming with ALGOL
Tutorials
Getting Started with ALGOL 60
ALGOL 68 Structured Programming
Recursion and Procedures in ALGOL
Arrays and Loops
Algorithm Examples in ALGOL
Official Docs
ALGOL 60 Report
ALGOL 68 Report
Historical ALGOL papers and manuals
Community Links
Historical programming forums
Academic ALGOL courses
GitHub repositories for ALGOL code
Programming language history groups
Educational programming forums
Community Support
Historical programming forums
Academic institutions teaching ALGOL
Algorithm research communities
Emulation projects for old ALGOL systems
GitHub repositories for historical code
Frequently Asked Questions about Algol
What is Algol?
ALGOL (Algorithmic Language) is a family of high-level programming languages designed for scientific computations and algorithm description, known for its structured programming features and influence on modern languages like Pascal, C, and Java.
What are the primary use cases for Algol?
Scientific computations. Algorithm description in publications. Academic teaching of programming and algorithms. Mathematical modeling. Compiler research and language design
What are the strengths of Algol?
Introduced modern programming concepts. Structured and readable code. Strong influence on future languages. Well-suited for algorithm description. Formal language definition enables compiler development
What are the limitations of Algol?
Limited hardware and system support. Not widely used for commercial software. Variations between ALGOL 58, 60, and 68 caused portability issues. Lacked extensive standard libraries. Mostly replaced by modern languages in practice
How can I practice Algol typing speed?
CodeSpeedTest offers 10+ real Algol code examples for typing practice. You can measure your WPM, track accuracy, and improve your coding speed with guided exercises.