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8. Module 3 Low-Level Language

The document discusses computer languages, categorizing them into low-level and high-level languages. Low-level languages, such as machine and assembly languages, are closer to machine code and are specific to hardware, while high-level languages use English-like syntax for easier programming. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages, with high-level languages being more user-friendly but requiring translation to machine code.

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3 views17 pages

8. Module 3 Low-Level Language

The document discusses computer languages, categorizing them into low-level and high-level languages. Low-level languages, such as machine and assembly languages, are closer to machine code and are specific to hardware, while high-level languages use English-like syntax for easier programming. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages, with high-level languages being more user-friendly but requiring translation to machine code.

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sglearn685
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Module 8.

COMPUTER LANGUAGES
COMPUTER LANGUAGES
Basically, languages are divided into two
categories according to their interpretation
1. Low Level Languages.
2. High Level Languages.
Low Level Languages
Low level computer languages are machine codes
or close to it.
Computer cannot understand instructions given in
high level languages or in English.
It can only understand and execute instructions
given in the form of machine language i.e.
language of 0 and 1.
There are two types of low level languages:
Machine Language.
Assembly Language
Machine Language
It is the lowest and most elementary level of
Programming language and was the first type of
programming language to be Developed.

Machine Language is basically the only language


which computer Can understand.
A manufacturer designs a computer to obey just one
Language, its machine code, which is represented
inside the computer by a String of binary digits
(bits) 0 and 1.
Machine Language
The symbol 0 stands for the absence of Electric
pulse and 1 for the presence of an electric pulse .
Since a computer is Capable of recognizing electric
signals, therefore, it understand machine Language.
Machine Language
Advantages of Machine Language
– i) It makes fast and efficient use of the computer.
– ii) It requires no translator to translate the code
i.e.Directly understood by the computer
Disadvantages of Machine Language:
– i) All operation codes have to be remembered
– ii) All memory addresses have to be remembered.
– iii) It is hard to amend or find errors in a program
written
– iv) These languages are machine dependent i.e. a
particular Machine language can be used on only one
type of computer
Assembly Language
1. Assembly language was developed to overcome
some of the many inconveniences of machine
language.
2. This is another low level language, operation
codes and operands are given in the form of
alphanumeric symbols instead of 0’s and l’s.
– These alphanumeric symbols will be known as
mnemonic codes and can have maximum up to 5
letter combination e.g. ADD for addition, SUB for
subtraction, START, LABEL etc. Because of this
feature it is also known as ‘Symbolic
Programming Language’.
Assembly Language
Advantages of Assembly Language
– i) It is easier to understand and use as compared to
machine language.
– ii)It is easy to locate and correct errors.
– iii) It is modified easily
Disadvantages of Assembly Language
– i) Like machine language it is also machine
dependent.
– ii) Since it is machine dependent therefore
programmer Should have the knowledge of the
hardware also.
High Level Languages
High level languages enable people to write
programs easily and in their own native language
environment (English).

High-level languages are basically symbolic


languages that use English words and/or
mathematical symbols rather than mnemonic codes.

Each instruction in the high level language is


translated into many machine language instructions
thus showing one-to-many translation
Types of High Level Languages
Many languages have been developed for achieving
different variety of tasks, some are fairly
specialized others are quite general purpose.
These are categorized according to their use as
a) Algebraic Formula-Type Processing. These
languages are oriented towards the computational
procedures for solving mathematical and statistical
problem
Types of High Level Languages
Examples are:
1. BASIC (Beginners All Purpose Symbolic
Instruction Code).
2. FORTRAN (Formula Translation).
3. PL/I (Programming Language, Version 1).
4. ALGOL (Algorithmic Language).
5. APL (A Programming Language).
Types of High Level Languages
b) Business Data Processing:
These languages emphasize their capabilities for
maintaining data processing procedures and files
handling problems. Examples are:
COBOL (Common Business Oriented
Language).
RPG (Report Program Generator
Types of High Level Languages
c) String and List Processing: These are used for
string manipulation including search for patterns,
inserting and deleting characters. Examples are:
LISP (List Processing).
Prolog (Program in Logic).
d) Object Oriented Programming Language
In OOP, the computer program is divided into
objects. Examples are:
C++
Java
Types of High Level Languages
e) Visual programming language: these are
designed for building Windows-based applications
Examples are:
Visual Basic
Visual Java
Visual C
Advantages of High Level Language
• User-friendly
• Similar to English with vocabulary of words and
symbols
• Therefore it is easier to learn.
• They require less time to write.
• They are easier to maintain.
• Problem oriented rather than 'machine' based.
• Program written in a high-level language can be
translated into many machine language and
therefore can run on any computer for which
there exists an appropriate translator.
Disadvantages of High Level Language
• A high-level language has to be translated into
the machine language by a translator and thus a
price in computer time is paid.
• The object code generated by a translator might
be inefficient Compared to an equivalent
assembly language program

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