
Chapter 10. Compiling and link-editing a program on z/VSE 255
A
subroutine is a commonly called routine that performs a predefined function.
The purposes behind a copybook member and a subroutine are essentially the
same: to avoid having to code something that has previously been done.
However, a subroutine is a small program (compiled, link-edited, and executable)
that is called and returns a result, based on the information that it was passed. A
copybook member is just text that will be included in a source program on its way
to becoming an executable program. The term
copybook is a COBOL term, but
the same concept is used in most progr