10 Questions
Machine language is a high-level programming language.
False
Assembly language is the human-readable notation for the machine language.
True
A second-generation programming language uses symbolic instruction codes that are random sequences of characters.
False
Procedural language is a third generation of programming language that uses English-like words to write instructions.
True
A high-level programming language must be translated into machine language by an interpreter only.
False
High-level programming languages are less complex and easier to read than low-level programming languages.
True
Fourth generation programming languages are also known as non-procedural languages.
True
Fifth generation programming languages provide a visual or graphical interface called a command-line interface for creating source codes.
False
Python is an example of a fifth-generation programming language.
False
A very high-level programming language is often called a goal-oriented programming language because it is usually limited to a very specific application.
True
Study Notes
Generations of Programming Languages
Low-Level vs High-Level Language
- A low-level programming language provides little abstraction from the computer's microprocessor
- A high-level programming language is more abstract, easier to use, and portable across platforms
First Generation (1GL)
- Machine language
- Set of instructions and data executed directly by the computer's central processing unit
- Statements written in binary code, with each statement corresponding to one machine action
Second Generation (2GL)
- Assembly language
- Human-readable notation for machine language, used to control specific computer operations
- Programmer writes instructions using symbolic instruction codes (mnemonics)
- An assembler translates assembly language into machine language
Third Generation (3GL)
- Procedural language
- Uses English-like words to write instructions
- High-level language making complex programming simpler and easier to read, write, and maintain
- Examples: PASCAL, FORTRAN, BASIC, COBOL, C, and C++
- Programs must be translated into machine language by a compiler or interpreter
Fourth Generation (4GL)
- Non-procedural language
- Enables users to access data in a database
- Often referred to as goal-oriented programming language due to specific application
- Examples: MS SQL, NOMAD, and FOCUS
Fifth Generation (5GL)
- Visual programming language
- Provides a visual or graphical interface for creating source codes
- Allows people to interact with computers without specialized knowledge
- Examples: Python
- Enables voice recognition systems to convert spoken sounds into written words
Learn about the evolution of programming languages in computer science, from low-level to high-level languages. Explore the characteristics of first-generation programming languages and their abstraction levels. Get insights into machine language and its role in early programming.
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