What are the different computer languages?

Programming languages are used to give instructions to the computer in a language which a computer can understand. They serve as a bridge between human logic and machine execution.

Computer languages are classified into three types as follows −

• Machine languages
• Symbolic languages
• High level languages

Machine Languages

Computer is a machine that can only store and process binary data (1's and 0's) in its memory. Instructions must be given to the computer in streams of 1's and 0's, known as binary code.

Programs written in binary code can be directly entered into computer for execution without any translation.

Advantages of machine language:

• Execution is very fast as no translation is required
• Direct control over hardware resources
• Memory efficient

Disadvantages of machine language:

• Very difficult to write and read programs
• Machine instructions are difficult to remember
• Machine dependent and not portable
• Error-prone and time-consuming to debug

Symbolic Languages

Symbolic language is also called assembly language. An assembly program contains "mnemonics" which are abbreviations that represent machine instructions.

"Mnemonic" means information which can be memorized easily in the form of abbreviations like MOV (move), ADD (addition), JMP (jump).

Advantages of symbolic languages:

• Assembly language is easier to read and write compared to machine language
• Mnemonics are easy to remember
• Faster development than machine language

Disadvantages of symbolic languages:

• Assembly programs are machine dependent
• Requires an "Assembler" to convert assembly language into machine language
• Still complex compared to high-level languages

High Level Languages

A high-level language is close to natural human language and provides control structures, I/O facilities, and built-in functions. Examples include FORTRAN, COBOL, PASCAL, C, C++, Java, Python, etc.

Advantages of high level languages:

• Machine independence − programs are "portable" across different systems
• Easy to learn and understand
• Takes less time to write programs
• Better error handling and debugging support

Disadvantages of high level languages:

• Requires a translator (compiler or interpreter) for conversion into machine language
• Slower execution compared to machine and assembly languages
• Less control over hardware resources

Translation Process

High-level and assembly languages require translation to machine language:

• Compiler: Converts the entire program at once and creates an executable file
• Interpreter: Converts and executes one statement at a time
• Assembler: Converts assembly language to machine language

Conclusion

Computer languages range from low-level machine code to high-level programming languages. The choice depends on the requirements for speed, portability, and ease of development. Modern programming typically uses high-level languages for productivity while critical systems may still use assembly or machine code for performance.