Computer Basics - Introduction
- Computer Languages
- Creating and Running
- Program Development steps
- Algorithms and Flow Chart
- C - Basics
- Introduction to C
- C Program Structure
- The C Character Set
- Variables
- Datatypes
- First C Program
- Expression
- Operators
- Expression Evaluation
- Type Casting
- Control Statements
- Introduction to Control Structures
- Decision Statements
- Loop Statements
- Jump Statements
Computer Languages
We use language for communication. When humans want to communicate they need to use languages like English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil etc., with which they can express their feeling. Similarly, when a user wants to communicate with computer, computer has to understand the instruction and respond back so we need a special language known as a computer language.
Definition
The languages through which the user can communicate with the computer by giving instructions known as computer languages
Every computer programming language contains a set of rules known as syntax that are used to communicate properly. The syntax can be compare with grammar in normal language like English etc.,
Computer languages are classified into 3 types
1) Machine languages
Computer is a machine and since its memory can store only 1’s and 0’s, instructions must be given to the computer in streams of 1’s and 0’s i.e. binary code.
These are easily understandable by the machine
Programs written in binary code can be directly fed to computer for execution and it is known as machine language.
- Execution is very fast since there is no need of Translations
- Writing and reading programs in machine language is very difficult
- Machine instructions are difficult to remember
2) Symbolic Languages
It is also called as assembly language
An assembly program contains “Mnemonics”
“Mnemonic” means information can be memorized easily and is generally in the form of abbreviations.
- Easy to read and write programs in assembly language when compared to machine language
- Mnemonics are easy to remember
- Assembly programs are machine dependent
- Execution is slow since it needs conversion into machine language
- “Assembler” is used to convert assembly language program into machine language.
3) High level languages
A set of languages which are very close to our native languages are called “ high-level languages”.
High level languages have control structures, I/o facilities, hardware independence
eg: FORTRAN, COBOL, PASCAL, C, C++ etc..
- Machine independence i.e. programs are “Portable” i.e. programs can be moved from one system to another
- Easy to learn and understand
- Takes less time to write programs
- High level language programs needs a translator for conversion into machine language
- ‘Compilers’ (or) ‘Interpreters’ are used for converting high level language program into machine language.
- Compiler converts entire statements in the program at a time
- Interpreter converts one statement at a time
Next Topic :Creating and Running