Job Control Language

This article is about IBM mainframe job control language. For Unix-based systems, see Job control (Unix). For general computing job control, see Job control.

Job Control Language (JCL) is a programming language for scripting and launching batch jobs on IBM mainframe computers. JCL code determines which programs to run, and with which files and devices for input and output. Parameters in the JCL can also provide accounting information for tracking the resources used by a job and can set which machine the job should run on.

There are two major variants based on host platform and associated lineage. One version is available on the platform lineage that starts with DOS/360 and has progressed to z/VSE. The other version starts with OS/360 and continues to z/OS which includes JES extensions, Job Entry Control Language (JECL). The variants share basic syntax and concepts but have significant differences. The VM operating system does not have JCL as such; the CP and CMS components each have command languages.

Generically, a job control language is any programming language for job control; not just the IBM mainframe one.

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