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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. 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 first
                  generation language (1GL). Machine language is very difficult for programmers to use because

                  it only consists of two digits, 0 and 1. These digits are called binary digits or bits, where the bit
                  '0' represents the OFF state and the bit '1' represents the ON state.
                  Assembly Language

                  To overcome the inconvenience of machine language, an assembly language was developed. It
                  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)


                  A high-level language is a programming language that enables a programmer to write programs
                  that are machine-independent. These types of languages are considered high-level languages
                  because they are closer to human languages than machine languages. The main advantage of
                  high-level languages over low-level languages is 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.
                  Third Generation Languages (3GL)

                  In third generation languages (3GL), the programmer writes a series of English-like words that
                  tell the computer what to accomplish and how to do it.


                  12     iPRIME (Ver. 2.2)–VI
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