Lecture 19 - Programming Languages
Programming Languages
A programming language is a structured and systematic method of communicating instructions to a
computer. It consists of commands, syntax, and rules that allow programmers to write instructions.
Programming languages are classified into two categories: low level languages and high level
languages.
Low Level Languages
• Machine-oriented language, requires detailed knowledge of computer hardware.
• Include machine language and assembly language.
Machine Language
• Directly understood by computer hardware.
• Consists of 0s and 1s.
• Not portable across different computers.
• Almost impossible for humans to use; rarely used for programming.
Assembly Language
• Uses symbolic codes or mnemonics.
• Easier than machine language but must be converted to machine code using an assembler.
• Allows access to special features of computer hardware.
• Programs written in assembly usually require less storage and execution time.
• Still used in some applications, but gradually declining.
High Level Languages (HLLs)
• English-oriented languages, easier to write programs.
• Examples include Visual Basic, C, Java, and Pascal.
• Require compiler or interpreter to translate into machine language.
• Easier to code and debug than low level languages.
Procedural and Structured Languages
• Based on modular programming; programs divided into smaller modules.
• Each module performs a specific task.
• Easier to design, modify, and debug.
• Structured languages have three elements: Sequence, Selection, and Repetition.
• Sequence: logical order of statements.
• Selection: decision making using if, else-if, switch, etc.
• Repetition: execution of statements multiple times.
