Language Environment provides the base for future IBM® language library enhancements in the z/OS environment. Many system dependencies have been removed from Language Environment-conforming language products.

Because Language Environment provides a common library, with services that you can call through a common callable interface, the behavior of your applications will be easier to predict. Language Environment's common library includes common services such as messages, date and time functions, math functions, application utilities, system services, and subsystem support. The language-specific portions of Language Environment provide language interfaces and specific services that are supported for each individual language.

Language Environment is accessed through defined common calling conventions, described in Language Environment callable services.