Fortran, short for “Formula Translation,” first appeared in 1957 and quickly became the standard for numerical computation. Despite its age, the language has been modernized through standards from FORTRAN 77 up to Fortran 2023 and now includes features like object‑orientation and parallel programming - a classic car with a modern engine.

The language is especially popular in domains such as weather forecasting, simulations and engineering computations where performance is critical. With efficient handling of arrays and numerical operations, Fortran remains a first‑choice for many scientists and engineers.

So while it may not be the first language newcomers learn today, Fortran is far from obsolete - it’s proof that specialization and performance stand the test of time.