test march 17th Flashcards
what is a high level language
use statements close to english / maths making it easier to solve and write problems
- translated by compiler/ interpreter
- machine independent
eg python
when use a high level language
Programmers almost always write in high-level languages because they are easier to understand and are less complex than machine code
why is it better to code in high level than low level
- machine independent
- easier to understand
- easier to debug
- easier to learn + faster to write
what is a low level langauge
Low-level languages are languages that sit close to the computer’s instruction set
An instruction set is the set of instructions that the processor understands
eg assembly language, machine code
when is a low level language used
to control and manipulate specific hardware directly
when use a low level language instead of a high level kanguage
- run quicker
- require less memory
- can control specific hardware directly
what are the negatives/ limitations of low level languages
- not machine independent
- hard to debug
- hard to read / understand
what is assembly language used for
low level language
used to directly manipulate hardware
what languages are processor specific
low level are processor specific
high level are machine independent
assembler
converts assembly language to machine code
interpreter
converts high level languages
compiler
converts high level languages
interpreter vs compiler