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People use languages that are similar to human language. The programs
are translated into machine code, which computers understand.
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Note
The only language understood by computer
hardware is machine language.
The Evolution of Programming Languages –
Assembly Language
Note
Assembly Level language uses symbols, or mnemonics, to
represent the various machine language instructions.
The Evolution of Programming Languages -
Higher-Level Languages
• Third-generation languages
• Fourth-generation languages
• Fifth-generation languages
Higher-Level Languages -
Third-Generation Languages
• Third-generation languages (3GLs) are the first
to use true English-like phrasing, making them
easier to use than previous languages.
FORTRAN C
COBOL C++
BASIC Java
Pascal ActiveX
PROGRAM The Multiplication Program in C
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Higher-Level Languages -
Fourth-Generation Languages
• Fourth-generation languages (4GLs) are even easier
to use than 3GLs.
Assembly
code
Assembler
Object code
HIGH LEVEL LANGUAGE
TRANSLATORS
Compilers
A compiler is a program that translates a high-level language program, written
in a particular high-level language, into a particular machine language.
A program written in high level language is called source program. After the
source program is converted into machine language by the compiler, it is
called an object program. It can be saved and reloaded several times.
This is especially useful for larger programs that have to be executed several
times without having to be modified.
A compiler can translate the programs of only that language for which it is
written.
HIGH LEVEL LANGUAGE
TRANSLATORS
Interpreters
An interpreter is a program that translates a high-level language program, one instruction (line) at a
time, into machine language.
As each instruction is translated it is immediately executed. At every execution the translation is
redone.
This is interesting to debug programs or for small programs.
Source code takes much less space than object code.
Interpreted programs are generally slower than compiled programs because compiled programs can be
optimized to get faster execution.
Note that:
Some high-level languages are compiled while others are interpreted. Compiled – C language,
Interpreted - Foxpro
There are also languages, like Java, which are first complied and then interpreted
REFERENCE
1. GOOGLE
2. WIKIPEDIA
3. worldofcomputerlaunguage.com