Prolog has several distinctive features that set it apart from other programming languages. Here are some of its main features :

1. Logic Programming Paradigm : Prolog is based on the logic programming paradigm, where programs are expressed as a collection of logical facts and rules. It allows programmers to focus on what needs to be achieved rather than how to achieve it, as the execution is driven by logical inference and search.

2. Declarative Syntax : Prolog uses a declarative syntax that allows programmers to express relationships and constraints directly in terms of logical predicates. This declarative nature makes Prolog programs concise and readable.

3. Pattern Matching and Unification : Prolog utilizes pattern matching and unification as core mechanisms for querying and reasoning. It matches query patterns against available facts and rules and uses unification to bind logical variables to values that satisfy the constraints.

4. Backtracking and Search : Prolog employs a backtracking mechanism that enables it to explore multiple solutions for a given query. If a solution is found, Prolog can backtrack and explore alternative solutions by undoing previous choices. This makes Prolog powerful for search and exploration tasks. 5. Logical Variables : Prolog allows the use of logical variables, which can be bound to values during the execution of a program. These variables provide a way to express and manipulate unknowns, allowing Prolog to perform computations with symbolic values.

6. Automatic Memory Management : Prolog features automatic memory management, specifically garbage collection, which takes care of deallocating memory that is no longer in use. This frees the programmer from manual memory management tasks.

7. Extensibility and Meta-programming : Prolog supports meta-programming, which means that Prolog programs can generate and manipulate Prolog code dynamically. This allows for program transformations, code generation, and implementing higher-level abstractions.

8. Integration with External Languages : Prolog can be seamlessly integrated with other programming languages. This enables developers to combine the logical reasoning capabilities of Prolog with the computational power and libraries of other languages.