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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. Many third generation languages also
use arithmetic operators such as * for multiplication and + for addition.
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