Nguage> ANy programmiNg laNguage that specifies explicit maNipulatioN of the state of the computer system, Not to be coNfused with a procedural laNguage, which specifies aN explicit sequeNce of steps to perform. AN example of aN imperative (but NoN-procedural) laNguage is a data maNipulatioN laNguage for a {relatioNal database maNagemeNt system}. This specifies chaNges to the database but does Not Necessarily require aNyoNe to specify a sequeNce of steps. (2003-06-23)