What is a low -level programming language?
There is a certain non -agreement on the exact definition of a low -level programming language, but all definitions share some common things about the characteristics of such a computer language. These characteristics include: similarity to binary code, required knowledge of the Central processing unit (CPU) and the ability of the programmer to control hardware through language. Some people consider any computer language to be a low level unless it is similar to the language people speak. Others are considering any language that requires the programmer to understand the complicated and very complicated function of the low -level CPU. It should be noted that a low -level programming language generally corresponds to all these descriptions.
The binary code, also called machine code, is the only language that the CPU or "brain" of the computer understands and "speaks". Machine code, if the view is a person, looks like many sequences of digits 1 and 0; represented the state to be on or be turned off, similar tolight that is on or off. A high -level programming language code would look very different from machine code in that it contains symbols and real words used in language, usually English that people speak. However, this does not mean that someone who is not a computer programmer would understand a high -level code more than it would be at a low level.
The greatest advantages of a low -level programming language is the ability and freedom to perform accurate control over things such as memory use and processing time. This means that programs written in low -level language should use system resources very effectively that can be highly desirable in encoding systems with very limited sources. Such an advantage does not come without price. Developers and engineers who code in a low -level programming language must have a healthy understanding of CPU functions in orderThey are memory and processing time.
The low -level programming language coding is very time consuming and tiring. This, of course, increases the costs associated with developing a program in such a language, as the equivalent of only two lines of code in a high level may require up to 20 lines in a low level programming language. Such slow development causes low -level languages primarily suitable for very small programs. They are barely used to develop larger programs.