Which of the following is NOT a procedural programming language?

The choice of HTML as the answer is accurate because HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is not a procedural programming language. Instead, it is a markup language used for creating and structuring content on the web. HTML focuses on the presentation and layout of information rather than executing logic or procedures that manipulate data, which is the hallmark of procedural programming languages.

Procedural programming languages such as FORTRAN, BASIC, and COBOL are designed to follow a set of instructions or procedures to perform tasks, utilizing concepts such as loops, conditionals, and variable manipulation. FORTRAN is known for its numerical and scientific computing capabilities, BASIC is recognized for its simplicity and educational use, and COBOL is often used in business applications. In contrast, HTML doesn’t include functionalities for procedural logic; it simply structures content and informs web browsers how to display it, which differentiates it significantly from the other languages listed.