Most high-level programming languages share the concept of data being represented as variables, structures (group items), literals, or constants.
The data in a COBOL program can be alphabetic, alphanumeric, double-byte character set (DBCS), national, or numeric. You can also define index-names and data items described as USAGE POINTER, USAGE FUNCTION-POINTER, USAGE PROCEDURE-POINTER, or USAGE OBJECT REFERENCE. You place all data definitions in the DATA DIVISION of your program.
related tasks
Using variables
Using data items and group items
Using literals
Using constants
Using figurative constants
related references
Classes and categories of data
(COBOL for Windows Language Reference)