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Programming Languages

The document provides an overview of computer programming, defining key terms such as computer program, programming, and programmer. It categorizes programming languages into three types: machine language, low level (assembly language), and high level language, detailing their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, it lists common examples of programming languages.

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Programming Languages

The document provides an overview of computer programming, defining key terms such as computer program, programming, and programmer. It categorizes programming languages into three types: machine language, low level (assembly language), and high level language, detailing their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, it lists common examples of programming languages.

Uploaded by

shalomfadile944
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SSS 1 COMPUTER STUDIES

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

DEFINITIONS

COMPUTER PROGRAM: A computer program is an expression of meaningful sequence of instruction


telling the computer exactly what to do and how to do it one step at a time.

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING: Computer programming is the specification of instructions that a


computer follows to perform a particular task. It is the act of writing the codes or instructions to give
the computer in order to solve a particular problem.

PROGRAMMER: A programmer is a person who writes a computer program and checks (debugs) the
mistakes (error) in the program. The programmer must give instructions in the language the computer
understands.

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE: A programming language refers to the vocabulary and set of grammatical
rules for writing codes or developing applications for the computer to execute.

LEVELS [TYPES] OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

1. Machine language
2. Low level language
3. High level language

MACHINE LANGUAGE

This is the native language of the computer. It is made up of binary digit of 0 s and 1s. Processing of any
program written in machine language is very fast since the computer understands this language without
the need for a translator. It is considered to be a first generation language.

Advantage of Machine Language:

It is efficient for the computer and runs very fast because no translation is required.

Disadvantages of Machine Language:

1. It is very difficult to program in machine language. The programmer has to know details of
hardware to write the program.
2. The programmer has to remember a lot of codes to write a program which results in program
errors.
3. It is difficult to debug the program.
4. It is not an easy language to learn because it is difficult to understand.

LOW LEVEL LANGUAGE (ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE)

The term low level means closeness to the way in which the machine has been built. Low level
languages are machine-oriented and require extensive knowledge of computer hardware and its
configuration. Also called ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE, it makes use of short codes or abbreviations called
symbolic instruction codes or MNEMONICS instead of binary numbers. It has to be translated into
MRS ADOGIE - POWERFIELDS GROUP OF SCHOOLS [COLLEGE], EGBIN
SSS 1 COMPUTER STUDIES

machine language using an ASSEMBLER before the computer can understand it. It is considered to be a
second-generation language.

Advantages of Assembly Language

1. The symbolic programming of Assembly Language is easier to understand and saves a lot of time
and effort of the programmer.
2. It is easier to correct errors and modify program instructions.
3. Assembly Language has the same efficiency of execution as the machine level language because
of the one-to-one translation between assembly language program and its corresponding
machine language program.

Disadvantages of Assembly Language

It is machine-dependent. A program written for one computer might not run on other computers with
different hardware configuration.

HIGH LEVEL LANGUAGE

This is a computer programming language that allows one to create powerful and complex programs
without writing large numbers of instructions or knowing how the CPU works. It is close to human
language in structure and is written in English like statements where the words are easy to understand.
Programs in high level language have to be translated into machine language using a compiler or an
interpreter.

Advantages of High Level Language

1. They are easy to understand and learn because they are similar to the languages used in day-to-
day life.
2. They are easy to code and debug
3. They are machine-independent

COMMON EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

1. Ada 10. C#
2. Algol – Algorithmic Oriented Language 11. Lisp
3. Pascal 12. Prolog
4. BASIC – Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic 13. Forth
Instruction Codes 14. APL
5. FORTRAN – Formula Translator 15. Logo
6. COBOL – Common Business Oriented 16. Python
Language 17. SNOBOL
7. Java 18. Visual Basic
8. C
9. C++

MRS ADOGIE - POWERFIELDS GROUP OF SCHOOLS [COLLEGE], EGBIN

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