1. EXPLAINING PROGRAMMING
LANGUAGES, COMPILERS &
INTERPRETERS
Chapter 1.2:

2. Language Levels
 Levels of programming language levels:
 machine language
 assembly language
 high-level language
 Each type of CPU has its own specific machine
language
 The other levels were created to make it easier for
a human being to read and write programs

3. Programming Languages
 Machine language
101101100110 011011010
 Assembly language
iload intRate
bipush 100
if_icmpgt intError
 High-level language
if (intRate > 100) . . .

4. Programming Languages
 Each type of CPU executes instructions only in a
particular machine language
 A program must be translated into machine
language before it can be executed
 A compiler is a software tool which translates from
high level language into a specific machine
language
 An assembler translates from assembly language
into a specific machine language

5. Programming Languages
 Each type of CPU executes instructions only in a
particular machine language
 A program must be translated into machine
language before it can be executed
 A compiler is a software tool which translates from
high level language into a specific machine
language
 An assembler translates from assembly language
into a specific machine language

6. Programming Languages
Language Description Examples Translator
Machine Instruction in 0
and 1 bits
011100001100
0001
None
Assembly Instruction in
mnemonic code
LOAD 3
STOR 4
ADD
assembler
High-level Similar to
human
language,
FORTRAN,
COBOL,
Pascal, C, C++,
Java…
sum = 4 + 3; Compiler &
interpreter