Today we'll start with procedural programming languages. Can anyone tell me what procedural programming focuses on?

Exactly! Procedural programming emphasizes the creation of procedures to perform tasks. Languages like C, Pascal, and Fortran fall under this paradigm. Let's look at a simple example in C: `#include <stdio.h> void greet() { printf('Hello, World!\n'); }`.

Yes! This modular design allows for **reusability of code**. Now, what do you think are the pros and cons of this approach?

That's right! While procedural programming is simple and efficient for small tasks, it can struggle with larger applications due to its limitations in data encapsulation. Let's summarize: procedural languages are great for structured tasks but can become unwieldy.

Now, let’s shift to object-oriented programming languages. Does anyone know what makes this paradigm different?

Yes indeed! Object-oriented programming focuses on encapsulating data and behaviour into objects. Languages like Java, C++, and Python are prominent here. For example, in Java, we define a `Car` class with its properties and methods.

Great question! It helps by promoting code reusability and making it easier to maintain. However, there’s often a steeper learning curve. Can anyone share an insight about when to use OOP?

Exactly! Object-oriented programming is ideal for complex and scalable systems. In summary, encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism can really drive software design forward.

Next, let’s delve into functional programming languages. What’s the core idea here?

Nicely put! Functional programming focuses on immutability and function evaluation. Languages like Haskell and Scala reflect this approach. For instance, in Haskell, you can define a function like `square x = x * x`.

Indeed, while functional programming can reduce bugs, the performance overhead of recursion and the learning curve can make it daunting. Finally, this method particularly excels in parallel processing. Can anyone give an example where this would be useful?

Exactly right! Functional programming shines in these scenarios, allowing for effective concurrent performance. Let's keep this in mind as we discuss other paradigms.

Now, we’ll talk about declarative programming languages. Who can explain what makes them unique?

Correct! They focus on expressing logic without getting into control flow. Prominent examples are SQL and Prolog. For instance, in SQL, you might write `SELECT name FROM Students WHERE grade > 90;`.

Exactly, it’s elegant and high-level. However, one potential drawback is less control over program execution. Any ideas where this style is typically preferred?

Spot on! Declarative programming excels in situations that require concise logic representation. So, to summarize: this paradigm simplifies complex logic while abstracting details.