Page 100 - TP_Pluse_V2.2_Class_6
P. 100

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.
                  Computer languages are classified into two major categories:


                                                    Computer Languages





                           Low-Level Language                                    High-Level Language




                       Machine            Assembly       Third-Generation    Fourth-Generation           Natural
                    Language (1GL)    Language (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. There are two categories
                  of low-level languages:

                  Machine Language

                  Machine  language is the only language  understood  by  computer.  It is also known as the  first

                  generation language (1GL). Machine language is very difficult for programmers to use because it
                  only consists of two digits, 0 and 1, called binary digits or bits. 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 the 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. Let's discuss about some high-level languages.






                  98    Plus (Ver. 2.2)-VI
   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105