Low-level languages - Classifying programming languages and translators - AQA - GCSE Computer Science Revision - AQA - BBC Bitesize (2024)

Low-level languages

are languages that sit close to the computer's . An instruction set is the set of instructions that the processor understands.

Two types of low-level language are:

Machine code

Machine code is the set of instructions that a understands directly and can act upon. A written in machine code would consist of only 0s and 1s - . This is very difficult to write and . Even a very simple program could have thousands of 0s and 1s in it.

Assembly language

Assembly language sits between machine code and in terms of ease of use. While high-level languages use to form instructions, assembly language uses - short abbreviations. Each mnemonic directly corresponds with a machine code instruction. Here are some examples of mnemonics:

MnemonicAction
LDALoads a value from a memory address
STAStores a value in a memory address
ADDAdds the value held in a memory address to the value held in the accumulator
SUBSubtracts from the accumulator the value held in a memory address
MOVMoves the contents of one memory address to another
MnemonicLDA
ActionLoads a value from a memory address
MnemonicSTA
ActionStores a value in a memory address
MnemonicADD
ActionAdds the value held in a memory address to the value held in the accumulator
MnemonicSUB
ActionSubtracts from the accumulator the value held in a memory address
MnemonicMOV
ActionMoves the contents of one memory address to another

In assembly language, programmers write programs as a series of mnemonics. Mnemonics are much easier to understand and debug than machine code, giving programmers a simpler way of directly controlling a computer.

Writing in mnemonics is easy for programmers because they are usually brief representations of the actual commands. They are quicker to write than binary, and it is easier to spot mistakes.

Little Man Computer (LMC) is a simulation of a very basic processor using . It uses an example of simple assembly language that contains a limited set of mnemonic instructions which can be used to program simple assembly programs. LMC is freely available on the internet for students to use.

Opcodes and operands

Many machine code and assembly instructions contain two parts:

  • the - this is the actual instruction
  • the - this is a value that the instruction uses or manipulates

Consider this set of program instructions:

Assembly languageOpcodeOperandInstruction
INP100100000000Input a number
STR 6001100000110Store it in address 06
LDR A1010110100001Load data from address A1
ADD #10001000001010Add the number 10 to the loaded address
Assembly languageINP
Opcode1001
Operand00000000
InstructionInput a number
Assembly languageSTR 6
Opcode0011
Operand00000110
InstructionStore it in address 06
Assembly languageLDR A1
Opcode0101
Operand10100001
InstructionLoad data from address A1
Assembly languageADD #10
Opcode0010
Operand00001010
InstructionAdd the number 10 to the loaded address

Both opcode and operand values are ultimately represented in binary. However, values may also be represented in when programming as this number system can represent larger values in fewer characters, for example, 250 is 11111010 in binary, but only FA in hexadecimal. Hexadecimal is therefore easier to read and understand by humans.

Low-level languages - Classifying programming languages and translators - AQA - GCSE Computer Science Revision - AQA - BBC Bitesize (2024)

FAQs

What is a low-level programming language GCSE? ›

(Learn how and when to remove this message) A low-level programming language is a programming language that provides little or no abstraction from a computer's instruction set architecture—commands or functions in the language map that are structurally similar to processor's instructions.

Which programming languages are classified as low-level languages? ›

Two types of low-level language are: machine code. It is represented by binary numbers. assembly language.

What is a low-level language Igcse? ›

Low Level Languages are languages that sit close to a computer's instruction set. These are basic instructions that the CPU will understand.

What are the languages for AQA computer science a level? ›

Examples of high-level languages include C#, Java, Pascal, Python and VB.Net.

Is GCSE coding hard? ›

Getting a 9 in GCSE computer science can be a challenging task, but it's not impossible. Achieving this grade requires not only a solid understanding of the key concepts and topics covered in the exam, but also strong coding skills and the ability to perform well under pressure.

Is C++ lower level than Python? ›

C++ requires manual memory management. In summary, Python is a high-level, general-purpose language that is easy to learn and use, while C++ is a lower-level, powerful language that is more complex but can be more efficient.

What is the best low-level programming language? ›

In conclusion, C++, C#, Java, and Rust are the most popular low-level programming languages in startups. Each language has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it is important to choose the one that best meets your needs.

Is Python a low-level language? ›

Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics.

Are low-level languages hard? ›

Low-level languages also have some challenges that make them harder to use and maintain. They are more difficult to learn, write, read, debug, and update. They are less portable and compatible across different platforms and devices.

Is low-level language readable? ›

Low-level languages (LLLs) are much closer to executable machine code than high-level languages. LLLs are harder to read by humans, but are easier to read for the computer.

What is a low-level language for kids? ›

A low-level programming language is one that is made to be easily understood by the computer. They include machine code and assembly language, both of which instruct computer hardware components to carry out instructions directly.

What is the hardest language to learn in computer science? ›

Malbolge. This language is so hard that it has to be set aside in its own paragraph. Malbolge is by far the hardest programming language to learn, which can be seen from the fact that it took no less than two years to finish writing the first Malbolge code.

Is a level computer science hard? ›

A Level Computer Science is challenging. To excel, you will need to develop a thorough understanding of programming concepts, algorithms, and data structures, and learn how to practically apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Is C and C++ low level? ›

C and C++ are now considered low-level languages because they have no automatic memory management. The definition of low-level has changed quite a bit since the inception of computer science. Today, we would not qualify C as a low or high-level language, but rather more like an intermediary language.

Is Python a low level language? ›

Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics.

Is C++ a lower level language than Java? ›

Java is a high-level programming language used for applications, websites, and mobile apps, while C++ is a low-level programming language. C++ is used to write more robust, large-scale projects like operating systems and video games.

Is C# a low level language? ›

C# is a versatile, high-level object-oriented programming language that runs on open-source platforms, as well as Microsoft Windows . NET architecture. Several attributes are responsible for the popularity of C#, as it's especially advantageous for building different types of web-based applications.

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