To answer this question, you need to understand the difference between COMP and COMP-3 data types in COBOL.
Option A) COMP is a Binary storage format while COMP-3 is a Packed decimal format - This option is correct.
- COMP is a binary storage format used for storing numeric values as binary integers. It uses one byte for each digit of the number.
- COMP-3, also known as packed decimal or packed numeric, is a format used for storing decimal numbers in a packed format. It uses half a byte (nibble) for each digit of the number, with the last nibble used for storing the sign of the number.
Option B) COMP is a Packed decimal format while COMP-3 is a Binary storage format - This option is incorrect.
- The statement in this option is reversed. COMP is a binary storage format, not a packed decimal format.
Option C) Both COMP and COMP-3 are Binary storage format - This option is incorrect.
- COMP-3 is not a binary storage format. It is a packed decimal format.
Option D) Both COMP and COMP-3 are Packed decimal format - This option is incorrect.
- COMP is not a packed decimal format. It is a binary storage format.
The correct answer is A) COMP is a Binary storage format while COMP-3 is a Packed decimal format. This option is correct because it accurately describes the difference between COMP and COMP-3 data types in COBOL.