What is the difference between external and global variables in COBOL?

Answer»

Global Variable	External Variable
It is a TYPE of variable which is available throughout the program.	Also available throughout the program, it is declared but not ALLOCATED any memory space.
It is applicable only when SHARING data AMONG nested programs via the ANSI85 dialect.	It is used to access globally declared data, including data declared using EXTERNAL or by other COBOL programs.
This specifies that a data-name is available for every program being CONTAINED within the program that declares it.	Here, any external data item can be referenced via any program inside the run unit describing the data item.

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