Low level languages
The languages in this category are the Machine level language and Assembly language.
Machine Level Language
- Computers can understand only digits signals, which are in binary digits i.e. 0 and 1.
- So the instructions given to the computer can be only in binary codes.
- The machine language consists of instructions that are in binary 0 or 1.
- Computers can understand only machine level language.
- Writing a program in machine level language is a difficult task because it is not easy
for
programmers to write instructions in binary code.
- A machine level language program is error-prone and its maintenance is very difficult.
- Furthermore machine language programs are not portable.
- Every computer has its own machine instructions, so the programs written for one
computer
are not valid for other computers.
Assembly Language
- The difficulties faced in machine level language were reduced to some extent by using a
modified form of machine level language called assembly language.
- In assembly language instructions are given in English like words, such as MOV, ADD, SUB
etc. So it is easier-to write and understand assembly programs.
- Since a computer can
understand
only machine level language, assembly language program must be translated into mahcine
language.
- The translator that is used for translating is called 'assembler'.
- Although writing programs in assembly language is a bit easier, the programmer has to
know
all the lower level details related with the hardware of a computer.
- In assembly language, data is stored in computer registers and each computer has
diiferent
set of registers. Thus the assembly language program is also not portable.
- Since the low level languages are related with the hardware, the execution of a
low-level
program is faster.