Basic types and Features of High-Level Language Programming

What are the high-level languages?

A high-level language is any programming language that permits the creation of a programme in a much more user-friendly programming environment and is generally unaffected by the machine’s hardware architecture.

A high-level language is more abstract from the computer than a low-level language, emphasising programming logic rather than underlying hardware components such as memory access and register utilisation.

High-level programming languages are intended for use by programmers or human operators. They are regarded as “closer to people.” In other words, their programming style and context are easier to understand and apply than low-level languages, and the entire code is focused on the specific application to be produced.

There is no need to consider hardware constraints while building a programme in a high-level language. However, before a high-level language programme can be executed by a computer, it must be translated into machine code.

BASIC, Perl, Pascal, COBOL, Ruby, and other high-level languages are examples.

What are the types of high-level languages?

BASIC:

Dartmouth College’s John G. Kemeny and Thomas E. Kurtz created the Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, or BASIC, in the mid-1960s. It is one of the easiest high-level languages to learn, even for children and inexperienced programmers, owing to English-like instructions. It supported basic data structures and grammar, and it was interpreted, which meant that a BASIC programme could be translated line by line and run as it was translated, making programming errors more visible. BASIC was a popular language for early personal computers due to its compact size and ease of use. Many of the data and control structures of other modern languages, such as Visual Basic, have been merged into its most recent versions, making it more powerful but less user-friendly.

COBOL:

COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language) is a computer language for business. The US Department of Defense invented CODASYL (Meeting on Data Systems Language) during a conference to build a language for business data processing that is now known as COBOL.

Because COBOL is designed for application programming, we cannot use it to create system software. COBOL is commonly used in data-intensive applications, such as those in the defence and insurance sectors.

Perl:

Because Perl is an interpreted language, you can run it without creating a non-portable executable.

Compilers, in the classical sense, convert programmes into machine language. When you run a Perl programme, it is first compiled into byte code, which is then converted into machine instructions while the programme runs. As a result, unlike shells and Tcl, it may be strictly understood without the use of an intermediary representation.

It’s also distinct from most versions of C or C++, which are compiled into machine-specific formats. It’s in the centre, alongside Python, awk, and Emacs.

Pascal:

 Niklaus Wirth invented Pascal in the early 1970s as a high-level, general-purpose programming language. It was established with the intention of teaching programming as a rigorous discipline and producing reliable and efficient programmes.

Pascal is an Algol-based language that uses several Algol constructs. Pascal is an Algol 60 subset. There are several data types and programming structures available in Pascal. Pascal programmes are easy to understand and maintain.

Pascal has gained popularity in the educational and intellectual realms for a multitude of reasons, including:

• It is simple to learn.
• Language has a defined structure.
• It creates programmes that are clear, efficient, and dependable.
• It may be built on a number of different computer platforms.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a high-level language?

Advantages of high-level language:

Easy to Maintain Program:

In comparison to low-level languages, updating and maintaining a programme written in a high-level language is straightforward.

Debugging is Easy:

A high-level language makes it easier to create and debug a programme because it allows the programmer to concentrate on the general logic rather than the programme code. Because compilers and interpreters are used, errors may be quickly found and located.

Easy to Use and Understand:

High-level languages use English-like terminology and seem more natural, making them easier to learn and understand. A programmer does not need to understand specific computer architecture to build applications in a high-level language.

Machine Independent:

Because high-level language programmes are portable, they can be executed on any type of computer with little or no modification.

Disadvantages of high-level language:

Poor Control on Hardware:

Because high-level language programming is isolated from the hardware and the programmer does not need to be knowledgeable of hardware, directly accessing and manipulating hardware is difficult.

Slow Execution:

A programme developed in a high-level language must be converted into machine code. This translation technique increases the execution time of the programme.