Introduction to Programming Languages
A computer requires instructions to perform a task. Such instructions are included in a programming language. Collection of such program is software. The procedure of developing software is programming. There are different programming languages. A Computer can be given instructions in any programming language. All computer languages follow a set of rules called syntax. Each programming language uses its own set of syntax.
The 3 main categories in programming languages are, machine language, assembly language and high level language.
Machine Language
Sequence of instructions written in binary form is a Machine Language. Machine languages use 0 and 1 to write instructions. The program written in a machine language execute faster than program written in any other language.
Assembly Language
It is an easy language, as special symbols like special characters, letters, or digits are used to write the program. Computers do not understand the Assembly Language hence the code written in Assembly Language has to be translated to a Machine Language. The Assembler performs the task of translation. After translation of a Assembly Language to a Machine Language the resultant output is an object code in the form of 0 and 1.
High Level Language
High level languages are easier to understand as English language is used to specify commands. Examples of High Level Language are: C, C++, Java, COBOL, and PASCAL. The High Level Language has to be translated to a machine readable language. A compiler translates the High Level Language. The resultant output is an object code.
The Hierarchy of programming language is:
A programming Language conversion to machine understandable language happens the way it is illustrated below:
