INTRODUCTION TO
COMPUTER
PROGRAMMING
Outline of Topics
◦ Definition of programming
language
◦ Categories of programming
languages
◦ Commonly used programming
languages
Programming
Language(PL)
◦ A programming language is a set
of instructions written by a
programmer to deliver
instructions to the computer to
perform and accomplish a task.
This set of instructions is usually
viewed as incomprehensible code
structured following a definite
programming language syntax.
Categories of
Programming
Languages
There are two categories of
programming languages. The
categorization is based on their human
level of understanding, these are:
◦ Low-Level Programming
Languages
◦ High-Level Programming
Languages
Low-Level
Language (LLL)
◦ A low-level language, often known as
a computer's native language, is an
example of programming language. It
is very close to writing actual
machine instructions, and it deals
with a computer's hardware
components and constraints. It works
to control a computer's operational
semantics and provides little or no
abstraction of programming ideas.
Examples of Low-Level Language
◦ The following are examples of low-level languages:
◦ Machine Code
• Uses binary code
• Machine-dependent
• Not portable
◦ Assembly Language
◦ Uses mnemonics
◦ Machine-dependent
◦ Not usually portable
Machine Language
◦ The representation of a computer
Operation Address program which is read and
understood by the computer.
0010 0000 0000 0100 ◦ A program in machine code
consists of a sequence of machine
0100 0000 0000 0101 instructions.
0011 0000 0000 0110 ◦ Instructions:
◦ Machine instructions are in binary
code
◦ Instructions specify operations
and memory cells involved in the
operation
Assembly Language
◦ A symbolic representation of the machine language of a specific
processor.
◦ Is converted to machine code by an assembler.
◦ Usually, each line of assembly code produces one machine
instruction (One-to-one correspondence).
◦ Programming in assembly language is slow and error-prone but is
more efficient in terms of hardware performance.
◦ Mnemonic representation of the instructions and data
◦ Example:
Load Price
Add Tax
Store Cost
High-Level
Language (HLL)
◦ High-level languages are programming
languages that are designed to allow
humans to write computer programs and
interact with a computer system without
having to have specific knowledge of the
processor or hardware that the program
will run on.
◦ High-level languages use command words
and Syntax which reflects everyday
language, which makes them easier to
learn and use. High-level languages also
offer the programmer development tools
such as libraries and built-in functions.
High-Level
Language (HLL)
◦ A Continue
programming language which use
statements consisting of English-like
keywords such as "FOR", "PRINT" or “IF“,
... etc.
◦ Each statement corresponds to several
machine language instructions
(one-to-many correspondence).
◦ Much easier to program than in assembly
language.
◦ Data are referenced using descriptive
names
◦ Operations can be described using familiar
symbols
◦ Example:
Cost := Price + Tax
Examples of
High-Level
Language
◦ The following are examples of
low-level languages:
◦ Pascal
◦C
◦ C++
◦ Java
◦ Fortran
◦ PHP
Low-Level VS High-Level Languages
Syntax and Grammars
1 2 3
Syntax descriptions The formal language is Some PLs look more
for a PL are not a PL but it can be like grammar
themselves written in a implemented by a descriptions than like
formal language. compiler to enforce instructions.
• E.g. Backus-Naur Form grammar restrictions.
(BNF)
Reference
◦ https://codeinstitute.net/global/blog/what-is-a-programming-language/
◦ https://www.javatpoint.com/what-is-a-low-level-language
◦ https://isaaccomputerscience.org/concepts/sys_proglang_high_level?examBoard=all&stage=all
