Differences Between High and Low Level Language: A collection of instructions for the CPU (Central Processing Unit) to carry out any particular task are defined and assembled by programming languages. Each programming language employs a specific collection of keywords and syntax to construct instructions.
Numerous programming languages have been developed up to this point. Each of them has a certain goal in mind. Regarding the degree of abstraction they all offer from the hardware, each of these languages varies. While some of these languages offer little to no abstraction at all, the others do so significantly. There are two types of programming languages based on this degree of abstraction:
- Low-level language
- High-level language
The main distinction between low-level and high-level languages is that, in contrast to machines, any programmer can easily comprehend, compile, and interpret a high-level language. On the other hand, robots are more likely than people to be able to interpret low-level language.
Examples of a high-level language
Here are some illustrations of high-level languages. Compilers are employed in order to translate them into machine language.
COBOL
JAVA
C
C++
Examples of low-level language
Only two categories of low-level language exist:
Assembly Language
Machine Code.
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Differences Between High and Low Level Language
1. Definition: We begin by first defining the two words. A high-level language is friendlier to people. They are portable, independent of machines, and easier for humans and programmers to understand.
They are created by merging mathematical symbols with letters and symbols from normal languages. They are implemented largely for the development of a software and are more based on real-world circumstances. These languages do not need memorization of a CPU’s architecture and registers. They may be used to develop a variety of applications and are simple to maintain and troubleshoot.
Low-level languages, in contrast, make decisions about how the hardware components of the computer will interact, making them machine-dependent. These are challenging for programmers to grasp since they mimic the computer’s native binary language. These need for a thorough understanding of a computer’s physical components and their settings. These lack portability, are challenging to debug, and are very prone to careless mistakes. a tedious and time-consuming operation; the hardware design determines the language.
2. Platform Requirements: We now begin contrasting the two languages. First, we discuss the platform, which in this context refers to the computer’s hardware or configuration. It is clear from the specification that platform dependencies lie with the low-level language. On the same hardware with the provided configuration, they can function. They wouldn’t operate if the hardware configuration was changed.
High-level languages, in contrast, are platform-independent and may function on any sort of hardware with any configuration. However, it should be noted that while being independent of system hardware configuration, they are not operating system independent.
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3. Program Speed: There are fewer syntaxes, keywords, functions, and class libraries in low-level languages since they are written in binary or assembly code. As a result, they may interact directly with the memory and registers without the requirement for compilation or interpretation.
High-level language, in contrast, employs English assertions that are similar to human language. As a result, they need a compiler or interpreter to transform them into machine language so that they can communicate with the computer’s memory and registers directly. The aforementioned reasons make it clear that low-level language moves more quickly.
4. Easiness: High-level languages mimic human languages very closely. English sentences are considerably simpler to memorize than computer languages. There are only two forms of the low-level language, which is favorable to machines. The first is the binary language, which exclusively uses the digits 0 and 1. Mnemonics are a form of symbol used in Assembly language, the other language. It is quite difficult to learn its many sets of instructions for various architecture. Assimilation and learning of this language also require familiarity with the particular machine architecture.
Thus, we may draw the conclusion that high-level languages are simple to read, write, and alter in addition to being simple to grasp and memorize.
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5. Memory Performance: High-level languages use a lot more memory, but low-level languages use a lot less. High-level languages often operate in a particular runtime environment.
Additionally, a number of additional applications are running simultaneously to boost its maximum efficiency. All of this increases the memory use for a high-level language.
6. Portability: Low-level languages vary depending on the architecture since they are machine-dependent. They are not portable as a result. High-level languages, however, include English statements that must be translated into machine code by a compiler or interpreter.
For various machine architectures, you must use various compilers and convert the source to the appropriate machine language. High-level languages are hence portable.
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6. Level of Abstractions: Low-level languages exhibit little to no abstraction from the hardware since they are most similar to computer languages. The high-level language, in contrast, functions on top of the machine language.
Through the layers of the operating system and other software, they communicate with the hardware. High-level language thus displays a deeper level of abstraction.
7. Flexibility: Low-level languages are significantly harder to work with and less versatile than high-level languages. They have enormous libraries with a rich collection of keywords, Data kinds, functions, etc. in comparison to low-level languages.
They can therefore be easily created with a great deal less effort and resources. Low-level languages lack this flexibility, which makes them challenging and rigid to handle.
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8. Repairing and troubleshooting: A low-level language makes it more difficult and time-consuming to identify or sustain errors, no matter how tiny or significant they may be. Additionally, they are more prone to errors and challenging to troubleshoot.
High-level languages, on the other hand, exhibit less mistakes. Compilers and interpreters can find and correct almost all of their syntactical mistakes. They are also simple to maintain and troubleshoot.
9. Support: Compared to high-level languages, low-level languages receive far less support. Compared to the number of specialists accessible for high-level languages, the number of professionals for low-level languages is negligible.
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10. Performance: The performance of greater speed languages is therefore strongly correlated with speed, i.e., low-level languages perform better than higher-level languages.
11. Applications: Low-level languages are typically used to create all types of operating systems and their embedded systems due to their advantages and characteristics, such as rapid speed, lack of abstraction, and direct contact with the hardware.
In contrast, a wide variety of programs, including utility software, desktop applications, websites, mobile applications, etc., are created using high-level languages.
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Conclusion
Our lives and way of living now revolve entirely around computers. Through the languages we refer to as programs, it can comprehend any instruction. Through programs, we give the computer all the instructions it needs to carry out certain jobs.
A high-level language is easier to write and understand by a programmer because it is more similar to natural language, but it cannot be directly interpreted by machines. In contrast, a low-level language can be quickly understood by a computer system but is challenging to write and understand by a programmer. We hope that at this point, you can easily distinguish between the two types of computer languages and the numerous uses for each. But we also need to use computers as effectively and as much as possible.
Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people.