Chapter 8
High Level Programing Languages
Definitions
Computer program: A computer program is a set of instructions written in a
programming language to control the activities of a computer system.
Instruction: Command to be executed by computer
Computer programming: This is the process of writing a program using a
programming language.
Programming language: It is an artificial language used by programmers to write
programs e.g. FOTRAN, COBOL, BASIC. ADA, C, C++, C#, Java, Python, Perl etc.
Programmers: Persons who write programs using programming language
Types of programming languages
There are hundreds of programming languages that are classified into
two types, they are:
High Level Language (HLL): HLL is a problem orientated programming language,
where the source programs (source code) are written in human readable
languages like English using an editor (Application or IDE)
Low Level Language (LLL): LLL is the language that address the computer
machine. Machine dependent, bulky, prone to error, very tedious language.
Examples include: machine and assembly languages
write programs that relate to the specific architecture and hardware of a particular type of computer.
High Level Languages Categories - Execution model
There are two categories of programming languages execution model, they are: Interpreted and
compiled programming languages. An interpreted language use an interpreter and compiled
one use a compiler.
An interpreter: Is a special program that translates and executes each source
statement at run-time, before translating and executing the next statement.
Compiler:
High Level Languages Syntax, semantic, Data types and Variables
Syntax and Semantics
High Level Languages Syntax, semantic, Data types and Variables
High Level Languages Syntax, semantic, Data types and Variables
C++data types
Name Data Type Size
char Character 1 Byte
int Integer 2 Bytes
short int Short Integer 2 Bytes
long int Long Integer 4 Bytes
float Floating Point 4 Bytes
double Double Floating Point 8 Bytes
long double Long Double Floating Point 10 Bytes
C++Program Flow Control
Program flow control is used to alter the sequence in which the
program statements are executed. In C++ there are two flow
control statements, they are:
Selection Statements: Includes if and the switch statements
Iteration Statements: Includes do, do-while and for statements
High Level Languages Syntax, semantic, Data types and Variables
Exercise
A) Define the following
1. Computer program
2. Instruction
3. Computer programming
4. Programming language
5. Compiler
6. Syntax
7. Semantics
8. Variable
B) Encircle the correct option from the following
The rules that must be followed when writing a program are called …………………
a) syntax
b) key words
c) operators
ISE Computing Essentials 2023, Timothy J. O'Leary, Linda I. O'Leary and Daniel
O'Leary, 29th Edition, ISBN-13: 978-1265263218
Invitation to Computer Science, G. Michael Schneider 8th Edition, ISBN-13: 978-
Required Textbooks 1337561914
Latest Books are available in College Library.
Invitation to Computer Science, G. Michael Schneider & Judith Gersting, 6th
Edition, ISBN-13: 9781133190820.
ISE Computing Essentials 2023, Timothy J. O'Leary, Linda I. O'Leary and Daniel
O'Leary, 29th Edition, ISBN-13: 978-1265263218
Essential References
Materials Introduction to Computers 8th edition (Shelly Cashman Series) ISBN-13: 978-
1439081310
Electronic Materials https://www.slideshare.net/janfisher/chapter1-introduction-to-computers
Other Learning Materials Blackboard
