5. Levels of Language

 

Programming languages are categorized into three levels:

1. Low-Level Language                                                                                                          
2. Mid-Level Language                                                                                                            
3. High-Level Language

Let's learn about each level one by one:

1) Low-Level Language

A low-level language is directly understandable by a computer's processor. It consists of instructions in binary form, using only 0s and 1s, which can be executed directly by the computer's hardware.

Example: Binary language (0, 1)

2) Mid-Level Language

A mid-level language, also known as assembly language, uses a set of predefined code words and symbols that are more understandable than binary code but still require translation to machine code. An assembler is used to convert assembly language into machine language.

Assembler: An assembler is an intermediate software that acts as a translator, converting assembly-level language into machine-level language.

3) High-Level Language

A high-level language is designed to be easy to read, write, and understand by humans. These languages use syntax and semantics that are closer to human languages. English was chosen as the base language to develop these high-level programming languages.

High-level languages are converted to machine-level language using intermediate software known as a compiler or an interpreter.

Note: Some languages use only compilers, some use interpreters, and some use both.

Examples:

• Compiler-based languages: C, C++
• Interpreter-based languages: Python, Ruby
• Languages using both: Java (uses both compiler and JVM as interpreter)