Final answer:
Declarative programming focuses on the 'what' or the desired outcome, whereas procedural programming is about the 'how', involving step-by-step algorithms to achieve a result.
Step-by-step explanation:
The declarative programming paradigm focuses on describing a 'what', which is the desired outcome or result of the programming code. In contrast, the procedural programming paradigm focuses on algorithms that describe a 'how', detailing the specific processes and steps needed to achieve a particular task or result.
Algorithms are essential in procedural programming as they provide the step-by-step instructions that are necessary to accomplish a desired outcome. For example, search engines use algorithms to sort and display search results, while social media platforms use them to determine which posts should show up on a user's feed. Similarly, algorithms are part of many commonplace activities such as recipe instructions in cooking, navigation software in GPS systems, and the programmatic responses in various software applications.
The declarative programming paradigm focuses on describing a "what" or the desired outcome, specifying the desired result without detailing the step-by-step process. It emphasizes expressing the logic and relationships between entities. On the other hand, the procedural programming paradigm concentrates on algorithms that describe a "how" or a step-by-step sequence of instructions to achieve a specific outcome.
Procedural programming involves breaking down a problem into smaller, manageable tasks and detailing the exact steps to be taken in a specific order. Declarative programming abstracts the implementation details, promoting a more high-level and concise expression of the problem compared to the detailed procedural approach.