Programing languages

Question 1

Define a High Level coding language

Answer 1

A computer programming language that resembles natural language or mathematical notation and is designed to reflect the requirements of a problem

Question 2

What are the advantages of Highlevel languages

Answer 2

• Easier to learn
• Easier to debug
• Easier to write
• Others can understand
• Less complex

Question 3

Why are High level languages easier to learn

Answer 3

They are closer to the natural language that we use.

Question 4

High level languages are:

Answer 4

• Python
• Java
• C++

Question 5

Define source code

Answer 5

A set of instructions that are written in human readable programming language

Question 6

Define low level languages

Answer 6

A programming language that provides little or no abstraction from a computer’s instruction set architecture

Question 7

Examples of low level languages are……..

Answer 7

• Machine code
• Assembly language

Question 8

What is machine code

Answer 8

Aset of instructions that a CPU
understands directly and can act upon. (Binary code)

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of using a low level language

Answer 9

• Difficult to debug
• Difficult to understand
• Very long(only 1 and 0)

Question 10

What is Assembly code

Answer 10

A coding language that is a midpoint between high and low level languages

Question 11

What does Assembly code use

Answer 11

It uses mnemonics- short abbreviations. Each mnemonic directly corresponds with a machine code instruction

Question 12

What are the advantages of Assembly code

Answer 12

• Easier to read and debug than machine code
• Shorter than machine code

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of Assembly code

Answer 13

• Still a complex language to understand
• Syntax is difficult to rember

Question 14

What is opcode

Answer 14

The actual instruction in low level languages

Question 15

What is operand

Answer 15

The data that the CPU uses in the instruction in low level languages

Question 16

What is scource code

Answer 16

Code writen in a high level language. It cannot be understood by a computer

Question 17

What is a translator

Answer 17

A program that converts source code into machine code.

Question 18

What are the 3 types of translator

Answer 18

• compilers
• interpreters
• assemblers

Question 19

How do compliers translate
source code

Answer 19

Takes the source code as a whole and translates it into machine code all in one go

Question 20

What are the advantages of compliers

Answer 20

• Run code quickly (already translated)
• They optimise code

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of compliers

Answer 21

• The whole code must be retranslated if changes are made
• It cannot be run on other platforms (translated specific to the processor)

Question 22

How do interpreters translate source code

Answer 22

They translate each instruction separately and the instruction is executed imediately

Question 23

Advantages of interpreters

Answer 23

• They execute as soon as they are translated (quick)
• Errors can quickly be spotted

Question 24

Disadvantages of interpreters

Answer 24

• Run slowly (one instruction at a time only)
• Has to be translated everytime its run
• Do not optimise code

Question 25

How do assembler translators work

Answer 25

They translate one assembly code instruction into one machine code instruction