Programming Languages | Language processor

A set of symbols, words and codes used to write a program is called program language. Different programming languages are available for writing different programs. Some languages are used to write specific programs and some are specially used to write business programs.

Types of Programming Languages

There are two types of programming languages known low-level-language and high-level-language.

Low-Level Languages

Low-Level-Languages are far from humans and near to the computer. A computer can easily understand these languages. Deep knowledge of the internal structure of computer hardware is necessary to write programs in a low-level language.

There are two types of low-level languages machine language and assembly language.

Machine Language

In machine language, instructions are written in a binary form known as machine language. Computers only understand the machine language directly. It is the fundamental language of the computer.

Programs written in machine language can be executed very fast by computer. Programs written in machine language are machine-dependent. Every computer has its machine language. Machine language is difficult to understand by humans.

Lots of time is required to write and modify a program written in machine language. It is also known as the First generation language.

Assembly Language

Assembly Language is a Low-Level Language. It is one step higher than machine language. In assembly language, symbols are used instead of binary code.

These symbols are called mnemonics. For example, Sub instruction is used to subtract two numbers.

It is also known as a symbolic language. It requires less time as compared to machine language to modify and write programs in assembly language. It is mostly used for writing system software. It is also known as a second-generation language.

High-Level Language

A high-level language is near to humans and far from the computer. It is easy to understand humans. Programmers can easily write programs in a high-level language.

The program written in a high-level language can easily be modified. In a high-level language, the program is written in simple English like print and input. High-level languages are further divided as:

• Procedural Languages
• Object-Oriented Languages
• Non-Procedural Languages

There are different types of high-level languages.

High-level programming languages are closer to human languages and to machine code than low-level languages. They are similar to English in that they are easier for people to read and write.

C/C++: It is a high-level programming language that is used to develop applications and system software. It is one of the most popular programming languages. It is not more difficult to use than another programming language. It is also called C, C++ language.

It is used for an operating systems like windows, Linux, Mac, and android operating system. It is used for web applications. It is used for the applications like office automation, games, multimedia applications, database system, and many more.

Java: Java is a platform-independent programming language. It can be used to develop applications that can run on any platform. The applications developed in java can run on operating systems like Windows, UNIX, Mac operating system, etc.

Pascal: Pascal is a popular high-level language used to develop business and scientific applications

FORTRAN: FORTRAN, short for Formula Translation, is a powerful mathematical programming language used to develop applications with complex mathematical functions.

BASIC: BASIC stands for Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code and it is just a basic programming language that is perfect for those just starting to learn to code and create software.

COBOL: COBOL stands for Common Business Oriented Language which is used for mathematical applications. It was created in 1959 and is still in use today.

Characteristics of high-level language

• Easy to learn.
• Error detection is easy in a high-level language.
• In a high-level language, deep knowledge is not required.
• High-level languages depend on the machine.
• High-level languages are easy to learn so most people come to learn the high-level language.
• The length of the program is shorter in high-level language than in low-level language.

Language Processor

Computers only understand machine language. The program is written in a high-level language and assembly language cannot be executed by the computer. So, it’s necessary to convert both languages into machine language before execution.

Language processors and translators are software that converts high-level language and assembly language to machine language.

Types of language processor

There are different types of language processors or translators.

Compiler

A compiler is a program that converts instructions written in a high-level language into machine language as a whole. Compilers are very large programs, with error-checking and other functions.

A program written in a high-level language is known as source code. The compiler converts the source program into machine code known as object code.

The compiler checks each statement in the source program and generates the machine instructions. It also checks the syntax error in the program.

A compiler only converts the programs of only the language for which it is written. For example, the C compiler can translate only those programs that are written in C language.

Interpreter

The interpreter converts the instruction statement by statement. It first converts one statement if there is an error it stops working and displays the error message before converting the next statement.

The advantage of interpreters over compilers is that an error is found immediately. So the programmer can correct errors during program development.

The disadvantage of the interpreter is that it is not very efficient because it does not produce an object program. It must convert the program each time it is executed. Visual Basic uses an interpreter.

Assembler

An assembler is translating program that translates the instruction of an assembly language into machine language.

High-Level Programming Language-Popular High-level languages

History of C Language

Basic Syntax of C++ Program

Debugging in Turbo C++

Introduction to Flowchart

Problem-Solving Techniques in Computer Science

Variable in C Language

What Are Constants In C/C++?

Assignment Operators in C++

Increment and Decrement Operators in C++

Relational Operators in C++

Logical Operators in C++

Arithmetic Operator in C++

Operators in C++

C++ Data Types

What are Escape Sequences in C Language?

What is While loop in C++?

do-while loop in C++

For Loop in C++

Functions in C/C++

Related FAQs