Computer Languages
What is Computer Language?
Computer languages are the languages through which user can communicate with the computer by writing program instructions.
Every computer programming language contains a set of predefined words and a set of rules (syntax) that are used to create instructions of a program.
Low Level Language (Machine Language)
Low Level language is the only language which can be understood by the computer. Binary Language is an example of low level language. Low level language is also known as Machine Language. The binary language contains only two symbols 1 & 0. All the instructions of binary language are written in the form of binary numbers 1's & 0's. A computer can directly understand the binary language. Machine language is also known as Machine Code.
As the CPU directly understands the binary language instructions, it does not require any translator. CPU directly starts executing the binary language instructions, and takes very less time to execute the instructions as it does not requires any translation. Low level language is considered as the First Generation Language (1GL).
Advantages
- A computer can easily understand the low level language.
- Low level language instructions are executed directly without any translation.
- Low level language instructions require very less time for thier execution.
Disadvantages
- Low level language instructions are very difficult to use and understand.
- Low level language instructions are machine dependent, that means a program written for a particular machine does not executes on other machine.
- In low level language, there is more chance for errors and it is very difficult to find errors, debug and modify.
Middle Level Language (Assembly Language)
Middle level language is a computer language in which the instructions are created using symbols such as letters, digits and special characters. Assembly language is an example of middle-level language. In assembly language, we use predefined words called mnemonics. Binary code instructions in low-level language are replaced with mnemonics and operands in middle-level language. But the computer cannot understand mnemonics, so we use a translator called Assembler to translate mnemonics into binary language. Assembler is a translator which takes assembly code as input and produces machine code as output. That means, the computer cannot understand middle-level language, so it needs to be translated into a low-level language to make it understandable by the computer. Assembler is used to translate middle-level language to low-level language.
Advantages
- Writing instructions in middle level language is easier than writing instructions in low level language.
- Middle level language is more readable compared to low level language.
- Easy to understand, find errors and modify.
Disadvantages
- Middle level language is specific to a particular machine architecture, that means it is machine dependent.
- Middle level language needs to be translated into low level language.
- Middle level language executes slower compared to low level language.
High Level Language
High-level language is a computer language which can be understood by the users. The high-level language is very similar to human languages and has a set of grammar rules that are used to make instructions more easily. Every high-level language has a set of predefined words known as Keywords and a set of rules known as Syntax to create instructions. The high-level language is easier to understand for the users but the computer cannot understand it. High-level language needs to be converted into the low-level language to make it understandable by the computer. We use Compiler or interpretor to convert high level language to low level language.
Languages like COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC, C ,C++, JAVA etc., are the examples of high level languages. All these programming languages use human understandable language like English to write program instructions. These instructions are converted to low-level language by the compiler so that it can be understood by the computer.
Advantages
- Writing instructions in high level language is more easier.
- High level language is more readable and understandable.
- The programs created using high level language runs on different machines with little change or no change.
- Easy to understand, create programs, find errors and modify.
Disadvantages
- High level language needs to be translated to low level language.
- High level language executes slower compared to middle and low level languages.