scope:

This International Standard specifies the syntax and semantics of COBOL. Its purpose is to promote a high degree of machine independence to permit the use of COBOL on a variety of data processing systems. This International Standard specifies: - The form of a compilation group written in COBOL. - The effect of compiling a compilation group. - The effect of executing run units. - The elements of the language for which a conforming implementation is required to supply a definition. - The elements of the language for which meaning is explicitly undefined. - The elements of the language that are dependent on the capabilities of the processor.