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5 Introduction to

Programming

Let’s surf

Computer Languages Language Translator
Working of Language Translators

Let’s PLug-in Critical Thinking

State whether the following statements are true or false.
1. Flowchart is a set of instructions that can be followed to perform a specific

task, workflow or process. __________
2. An algorithm is a set of steps in a sequential manner to solve a problem or
to complete a task. __________
3. Flowcharts are used in analysing, designing, documenting or managing a
process or program in various fields. __________

We have already learnt that computers follow certain steps to perform any task and when we perform
a sequence of steps to solve any problem, it is called an algorithm. Let us now learn about computer
languages used to develop programs.

COMPUTER LANGUAGES

To communicate with the computers, we need some special languages which are called computer
languages or programming languages. A computer language is the medium by which instructions
are transmitted to the computer to perform a specific task. It is a set of words, symbols and codes
that the computer can understand. It is used to write computer programs. A computer program is

a set of instructions written in a programming language. The process of writing a program is called
programming. People who write the programs are called programmers.
There are a number of programming languages worldwide. Some languages were developed for
specific computers, others were developed for specific uses such as scientific or business applications.

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