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Computer languages are classified into two major categories:

Computer Languages

Low-Level Language High-Level Language

Machine Assembly Language Third-Generation Fourth-Generation Natural
Language (1GL) (2GL) Language (3GL) Language (4GL) Language (5GL)

Low-Level Language (LLL)

A low-level language is a programming language that is machine dependent. A program written in
a machine-dependent language runs only on one particular type of computer. This type of program
is not easily portable to other types of computers. There are two categories of low-level languages;
Machine language and Assembly language.

Machine Language

Machine language is the only language understood by the computer. It is also known as the first
generation language (1GL). Machine language is very difficult for programmers to use because it
consists only of binary digits, 0 and 1, called bits. Where the bit '0' represents the OFF state and the
bit '1' represents the ON state.

Assembly Language

Assembly language is also known as second generation language (2GL). It is a language in
which program codes are written in the form of alphanumeric symbols called ‘Mnemonics’
instead of 0 and 1. In the assembly language, a programmer writes abbreviations such as A for
addition, C for compare, L for load and M for multiply. Because of this feature, it is also known as

‘Symbolic Language’.

High-Level Language (HLL)

High-level language is a programming language that enables a programmer to write programs that

are machine independent. This type of languages are considered as high-level languages because
they are closer to human languages and away from machine languages.
The main advantages of high-level languages over low-level languages are that they are easier to
read, write and maintain. There are three main categories of high-level languages, which are third

generation languages, fourth generation languages, and natural languages.

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