What is FORTRAN primarily used for?

FORTRAN, which stands for "Formula Translation," is a high-level programming language that was developed in the 1950s and is primarily used for scientific and numerical computing. Its design allows for easy manipulation of mathematical equations and straightforward handling of numerical data, making it particularly well-suited for tasks that require significant mathematical calculations, such as simulations, modeling, and complex data analysis used in various scientific fields.

The language includes features that facilitate high-performance computing, which is crucial for applications in engineering, physics, meteorology, and computational chemistry, among others. Additionally, it has a long history of optimization in handling array and matrix operations, which are common in scientific computations, further solidifying its place in this domain.

Other options, such as web development, game development, and machine learning, typically involve programming languages that cater more towards dynamic content, graphics, or data manipulation approaches, which are not the primary strengths of FORTRAN. Therefore, the focus on scientific and numerical computing effectively captures the essence of what FORTRAN is predominantly used for.