High and Low-level languages

Question 1

What is a high level language

Answer 1

portable languages that need to be converted into machine code to run on a computer
e.g C++, Python, Java

Question 2

What is a low-level language

Answer 2

language that relates to the specific architecture and hardware of computer

Question 3

Advantages of High Level Language

Answer 3

• easier/faster to write code as uses English-like statements
• easier to modify as uses English-like statements
• easier to debug as uses English-like statements
• portable language code - because it is written in source code
• Only need to learn a single language - as this can be used on many different computers

Question 4

Advantages of low level language

Answer 4

• can work directly on memory locations
• can be executed faster
• translated program requires less memory
• no need for compilers/interpreters

Question 5

features of a compiler

Answer 5

• A report of errors is produced at the end of translation
• Translates high-level language into machine code
• An executable file is produced
• The program will not run at all if an error is detected
• Can be used without compiler

Question 6

features of a interpreter

Answer 6

• Translates from high-level language into machine code
• Cannot be used without translator
• Executes a high-level language program one instruction at a time
• Produces error message each time an error encountered

Question 7

features of assembler

Answer 7

low-level programming language
uses mnemonic codes
specific to the computer hardware.
used to create drivers for hardware

Question 8

Features of interpreter

Answer 8

Translates from high-level language into machine code

Cannot be used without translator

Executes a high-level language program one instruction
at a time

Produces error message each time an error encountered

Question 9

features of assembly code

Answer 9

low-level programming language
uses mnemonic codes
specific to the computer hardware.
used to create drivers for hardware

Question 10

whats a syntax

Answer 10

The structure of language statements in a computer program is called the syntax

Question 11

Differences between compilers and interpreter

Answer 11

compiler produces executable code / interpreter doesn’t produce executable code

compiler translates program in one go / interpreter translates and executes line at a time

compiler produces list of all errors / interpreter produces error message each time an error encountered

compiler produces “stand alone code” / interpreter doesn’t produce “stand alone code”