What is a Computer Language?

Various types of programs are written to operate the hardware of any computer. The language in which these programs are written is called a computer language. Different programs are created using various computer languages. The specific language in which a program is written is referred to as a programming language.

There are three types of computer languages:

• Machine Language
• Assembly Language
• High-Level Language

Machine Language

A computer is an electronic circuit that understands only “on” (1) or “off” (0). This is known as machine language or binary language. Binary code represents electrical signals. It is a low-level language.
The computer understands this language directly; therefore, no translator is required. Consequently, it operates at a high speed. However, writing programs in this language is difficult, and there is a greater susceptibility to errors. For this reason, various companies utilize different high-level languages ​​to develop operating systems and write programs. With the aid of translators, these are converted into machine language, thereby rendering them intelligible to the computer. A simple example of binary code is: 10110000 01100001.

Assembly Language

This is a low-level language. In it, instructions are written in the form of short code names, known as mnemonics. Mnemonics consist of letters or numbers. Being close to conversational language, it is easy for humans to read and understand; consequently, it can also be written with ease.

An assembler translator is used to convert this language into machine language.
However, this depends on the type of computer hardware. Due to this dependency on hardware, it is difficult to port its code to other hardware platforms.

Different hardware systems have distinct assembly languages ​​and assemblers. Running programs created using this approach takes longer than running programs written in machine language. This is due to the translation process involved. It is more complex and time-consuming compared to high-level languages.

The result obtained after converting Assembly language source code into machine language using a translator is called object code. Presented below is an example of a simple Assembly language program that adds two numbers (5 and 3):

MOV AX, 5 ; Move 5 into register AX.
MOV BX, 3 ; Move 3 into register BX.
ADD AX, BX ; Add BX to AX; the result is stored in AX.

It abstracts away the complexities of the hardware, enabling programmers to think at a higher level. Furthermore, these languages ​​are easily portable across various platforms. Compilers or interpreters are used to translate them into machine language; however, a distinct compiler or interpreter is required for each specific HLL.

HLL is quite close to natural human language; therefore, it is easy to write and understand. This significantly reduces the scope for errors. If an error does occur, it can be rectified quickly. These languages ​​are not dependent on specific hardware; consequently, they can be easily transferred from one hardware platform to another. They are also referred to as third-generation languages.

Computer languages ​​of this generation are domain-specific. They place greater emphasis on the solution itself rather than on the method used to obtain it. In contrast, third-generation languages ​​provide step-by-step instructions on how to arrive at a solution. These languages ​​are utilized in database management and web development.
A 4GL is quite close to human language; therefore, writing and understanding programs in it is significantly faster. SQL (Structured Query Language), SAS (Statistical Analysis System), JavaScript, Microsoft FrontPage, MATLAB, and Oracle Reports are examples of this.

Fifth-Generation Computer Languages ​​(5GL)
Fifth-generation computer languages ​​(5GL) are extremely high-level languages ​​used in computer programming. They are based on logic programming, artificial intelligence (AI), and logic extraction. The objective of these languages ​​is to minimize the need for explicit programming to solve problems automatically.

Its objective is to encourage the development of AI systems. Programmers are required to specify only the problem conditions and the direction of the solution; the rest of the work is performed automatically by the 5GL. It offers a high level of abstraction for defining the system’s logic and rules. PROLOG, LISP, Mercury, and OPS5 are examples of this.

Markup Language

This is a type of computer language that provides an effective way to structure and organize text. It organizes and presents text by adding tags and annotations to plain text. It can be used by humans for both reading and writing, and can also be easily parsed by computers.

Examples of this include:

HTML (Hyper-Text Markup Language): It is used to create and structure web pages.
XML (extensible Markup Language): It is used to structure and store data.
Markdown: It is a simple and readable markup language used to format and structure documents.

Specific Rules of Computer Languages

Syntax Rules: Various types of languages ​​are used to write computer programs or software. Just as every language possesses a grammar, different computer languages ​​also have their own respective grammars. These are referred to as syntax rules. The errors that arise when these rules are not adhered to while writing a program are known as syntax errors.

A reserved word, or keyword, is a special word that is pre-defined and reserved within a programming language. These words constitute a part of the programming language’s syntax and cannot be used as variables, functions, or other user-defined identifiers. The purpose of reserved words is to ensure that they remain reserved for specific meanings and functionalities within the language.

Popular Computer Languages

FORTRAN: It was developed by John Backus of IBM in 1957. Based on algebra, this language is considered the first High-Level Language (HLL). Its full name is Formula Translation. It is used for solving mathematical formulas and performing complex scientific calculations.

BASIC: This is an easy and simple programming language designed for beginning programmers. It was developed by Prof. John and Thomas Kurtz in 1964. It is utilized in both mathematical and business-related applications. Developed by Microsoft, its…
Versions of Quick BASIC and Visual Basic constitute a popular Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) language.

Python: A popular and multi-purpose language that offers simple and readable syntax. It is extensively used for training and testing AI models.

Java: It was developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems. It is also an object-oriented language, known for its platform independence. Consequently, it is used not only on the Internet but also in TVs, tele-phones,It is used in animation-based webpages and computer games.
C++: This is an object-oriented computer language. It is suitable for high-performance and system programming. It was developed in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie and Brian Cunningham at Bell Laboratories. It was developed with the objective of incorporating Assembly language into a High-

Level Language (HLL).

JavaScript: This is a widely used language for web development.

Ruby: It is renowned for its simplicity and productivity. It is a pure object-oriented language developed by Yukihiro Matsumoto.

COBOL: It was developed specifically for business and financial applications. This computer language is structured into paragraphs, divisions, and sections. Through a compiler known as ANSI COBOL, it can be utilized on any computer. Visual COBOL is a variant of this language, which is an object-oriented programming language (OOL).

C: It is extensively used for the development of system software and application software.

LOGO: This is a programming language developed for children for educational purposes, featuring graphical “turtle graphics.” It was developed by the American developer Seymour Papert.

Algol: This is an algorithmic language, used for scientific and engineering calculations.

COMAL: Based on BASIC and Pascal, this language was developed for educational purposes and simple applications.

Prolog: This is a logic-based programming language. It is used for applications in artificial intelligence and mathematical logic. It was developed in France in 1972.

Pascal: This language was developed to promote structured programming. Named after Blaise Pascal, it was created by the Swiss scientist Prof. Niklaus Wirth in 1971.

C#: This is a modern, object-oriented programming language developed by Microsoft. It is a computer language recognized by ECMA (European Computer Manufacturers Association) and ISO.

RPG: Its full form is Report Program Generator. It is a programming language used for business applications. It was developed by IBM.

Lisp: It is widely used in artificial intelligence research. It is a functional programming language utilized for processing non-numeric data. It was developed by John McCarthy in 1959.

SNOBOL: This is a language used for text processing and string manipulation. It was developed at Bell Labs during the 1960s. Its full form is StriNg Oriented symbolic Language.

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