Types of Programming Languages

Introduction

• Programming languages are artificial languages that communicate instructions to machines, especially computers.
• Used to create programs controlling machine behavior (e.g., rockets, computers, smart TVs).

Overview of Programming Languages

• Java is currently one of the most popular programming languages.
• Programming languages are divided into two main types: Low-Level and High-Level.

Low-Level Languages

• Definition: Languages that are machine-specific and difficult for humans to understand.
• Types:
  • Machine Language
    • Runs directly on CPU.
    • Consists of binary code (0s and 1s).
    • Tedious and error-prone to write manually.
    • Not portable; specific to one type of machine.
  • Assembly Language
    • Simplifies machine language programming by using mnemonic codes (e.g., move, jump, add).
    • Specific to certain computer architectures (e.g., MIPS, x86).

High-Level Languages

• Definition: More user-friendly and closer to human language.
• Characteristics: Portable and easier to write.
• Examples: C#, Java, Python.
• Types:
  • Procedural Languages:
    • Focus on a sequence of steps to solve a problem (like a recipe).
    • Follow a top-down approach.
  • Object-Oriented Languages:
    • Programs are interactions between objects (e.g., eye, fridge, microwave in a morning routine).
    • Focus on data and follow a bottom-up approach.
    • Better for modeling real-world scenarios.

Advantages and Disadvantages

• Procedural Languages:
  • Disadvantages:
    • Data security is a concern.
    • Code interdependence makes reuse difficult.
• Object-Oriented Languages:
  • Advantages:
    • Secure programs through data encapsulation.
    • Code modularity facilitates reuse and extension.

Compilation and Interpretation

• High-level code requires a compiler or interpreter to translate into machine language.
• Compiler:
  • Translates high-level instructions into machine language, generating an executable file (e.g., .exe).
• Interpreter:
  • Translates and executes high-level instructions line by line.

Conclusion

• Next video will cover Object-Oriented concepts in Java.