Types of Programming Languages

Definition

Programming language: An artificial language designed to communicate instructions to machines (especially computers).
Used to create programs that control machine behavior (e.g., computers, rockets, smart TVs).
A program = a list of instructions in a programming language.

Programming languages are divided into two main categories:

Low-Level Languages
- Languages that the machine understands directly.
- Types:
  - Machine Language:
    - Numeric (series of bits: 0s and 1s).
    - Tedious and error-prone to write manually.
    - Not portable (specific to machine type).
  - Assembly Language:
    - Reduces errors and time-consuming machine programming.
    - Uses mnemonic codes to represent machine instructions (e.g., move, jump, cmp, add).
    - Specific to certain computer architectures (e.g., MIPS, x86).
High-Level Languages
- More user-friendly and closer to human language.
- Types:
  - Procedural Languages:
    - Programs written as a sequence of steps to solve a problem (e.g., recipe instructions).
    - Follow a top-down approach focusing on functions.
    - Disadvantage: Data is not secure, code is interdependent, which complicates reuse.
  - Object-Oriented Languages:
    - Programs written as interactions between objects.
    - Objects maintain internal data and expose functions for others to use (e.g., fridge and microwave interaction).
    - Follow a bottom-up approach with a focus on data.
    - Advantages: Models real-world interactions, secures data, modular code, and extensibility.

High-level language code needs to be translated into machine language using:
- Compiler: Translates high-level instructions into machine language and generates an executable file (e.g., .exe).
- Interpreter: Translates and executes high-level instructions line by line.