Languages

Computer programs can be written in a wide variety of computer languages. The two main types of computer languages are low-level languages and high-level languages. Low-level languages operate faster, but are more difficult to write. They include: machine code - which consists entirely of 1s and 0s, assembly language - which uses mnemonics and numbers.

High-level languages are closer to human languages and are therefore easier to use. They include: C++ (C plus plus), Java, JavaScript, Visual Basic, and Delphi.

One of the easiest programming languages to use is called BASIC. Some of the expressions used in the BASIC language are shown in the table below.

All computer programs, however, have to be converted into low-level machine code to be understood by a computer. Some languages can be compiled by a compiler program, which converts the whole program into machine code at one time.

Other languages are interpreted by an interpreter program which converts the program into machine code one line at a time, as each line is required by the processor. A compiled program only needs to be compiled once, but an interpreted program needs to be interpreted every time it is used. Compiled programs are, therefore, faster than interpreted programs. Note that Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) is not really a programming language, but it used for creating web pages.

BASIC uses the following mathematical symbols:

/ - devided by **- raised to the power of

*- multiply by (times)

3 Answer the following questions:

1 What are t he two main types of computer languages?

2 What is the difference between low-level languages and high-level languages?

3 What is the easiest programming languages to use?

4 What have all computer programs to be converted into? Why?

5 What is the function of a compiler program?

6 What is the function of an interpreter program?

7 What is the difference between a compiled program and an interpreted program?

8 What mathematical symbols uses BASIC?