Programming Language: Definition & Types

   Programming language

       Definition :

• A programming language can be considered as a tool to implement our ideas .

• It consists of commands and instructions which are used to create programs or software.

• Usually, programming languages that programmers use to write code are referred to as High Level Languages.

• Example: Python , C , Java , C++ , JavaScript etc.

Programming languages are mainly divided into two :

1. High Level Languages 
2. Low Level Languages

1. High Level Languages :

High level languages are languages that enables a programmer uses English and mathematical symbols like + , - , / , *,% etc..  which  are easier to read, write and maintain.

High Level programming Languages include Python, Java, C,C++,JavaScript etc.

Below is an example for writing programs in python:

First example:

If we want to print any message on the screen then, use print( ) function.

print("Code Malayalam")

Second example:

If we want to add 2 numbers, then use the + operator

Sum= 10+17

High Level Languages are not directly understood by the computer and hence we need translators to convert high level language to machine language.

There are three types of translators:

1. Interpreter
2. Compiler
3. Assembler

In Python , interpreter is used as the translator.

Interpreter is used to translates high level language to machine language.

Interpreter translates  program line by line.

2. Low Level Languages :

Low Level Languages are named  " low "  because their communication is close to how different hardware communicate with each other.

They are machine-oriented and it's difficult to learn them and also to do programming with these languages.

Low level languages are divided into two:

1. Machine Language
2. Assembly  Language

1. Machine Language :

Machine Language is the language which does require any translation and it is directly understood by the computer.

All the instructions used are binary , that is, string of 1s and 0s.

Example:

1010101000100101 1010101 1010100 0001101010101

2. Assembly Language :

Assembly Language  usually has one statement per machine instruction and they are specific to particular type of processor or operating systems.

Writing assembly language programs are difficult and  not all programmers use them in daily tasks.

The translator used is assembler.

Example:

ADD AX,BX                          [AX and BX are memory registers]