High & Low Level Languages

• They are easier to understand, learn and program as commands are more English-like

•  Identifiers can be long and meaningful.  For example, meaningful identifiers for a book database application could be Book Name, Publisher, Author, ISBN Number.

•  They allow the use of powerful commands that perform quite complex tasks

• Allows creation of modules that can be re-used and accessed by other parts of the program.  Modules can be tested independently which allows for shortening the time taken to get the program to work correctly.

• Structured programming allows the user to maintain and debug programs easier; larger projects become easier to monitor and control; easier for other programmers to understand

Examples of High Level Languages

• Ruby,

• Fortran

• Cobol

• Algol

• Lisp

• Java

• Javascript

• Visual Basic

• Python

• Swift

• C++

• PHP

JavaScript is the language that is run by browsers which is used to develop and control web pages.  

Java is a popular language used in Android development.

Ruby is most used for building web applications. 

• Ideal when the execution speed is critical, e.g. boot strap loader.  They run fast e.g. real time systems like controlling a microwave require immediate response so has to run fast.

• More efficient than high level language programs

•  Require less time for translation into machine code

• Generally result in smaller executable programs e.g. for a microwave the size of code needs to be small to be stored in ROM on an embedded chip inside the microwave.

• Embedded systems like controlling a microwave require control over the hardware.

Assembly Language

In computer programming, assembly language (or assembler language), sometimes abbreviated asm, is any low-level programming language in which there is a very strong correspondence between the instructions in the language and the architecture's machine code instructions.

Assembly code is converted into executable machine code by a utility program referred to as an assembler.