Programming languages are usually categorized as high-level and low-level languages, which have different functions in programming. High-level languages, including Python, Java, and C++, are easy to use, having readable syntax, hardware abstraction, and integrated functions that ease coding. Low-level languages, like Assembly and Machine Code, offer direct hardware access, having greater control, efficiency, and performance but with added complexity.
It is necessary to understand the differences between the two types of languages in order to select an appropriate tool for a project. High-level languages are best suited for application development, web programming, and data analysis, while low-level languages are typically utilized in system programming, embedded systems, and high-performance applications.
In this blog, we shall outline the differences, benefits, and applications of both high-level and low-level programming languages.
“Higher” and “Lower-Level” Programming Languages
Programming languages tend to be classified as higher-level or lower-level depending on how much they are abstracted away from computer hardware. Higher-level languages such as Python, Java, and C++ are meant to be easier to read and more user-friendly, featuring human-oriented syntax, intrinsic functions, and memory management through automatic mechanisms. Such languages enable programmers to concentrate on problem-solving instead of coping with hardware details. They are popularly employed in web development, software engineering, and data science because they are easy to learn and effective to code with. They, however, come with increased execution overhead since they use interpreters or compilers to execute code into machine instructions.
Conversely, low-level languages like Assembly and Machine Code work much nearer to the hardware of the computer with more control over memory, performance, and system resources. They are usually applied to operating systems, embedded systems, and performance-critical programs where direct hardware interaction is required. Although they offer high execution speed and efficiency, they need deep understanding of computer architecture and are typically more difficult to program in. The decision between higher and lower-level languages is based on the requirements of the project, weighing ease of development against performance and system control.
In machine code, you might write something like “10110000 01100001” — but an assembly language might simplify that to “MOV AL, 61h“. There’s still an almost one-to-one correspondence between what’s written in the assembly language and the instructions passed to the machine.
Moving into more popular programming languages, you’ll come to something like C. While not as low as an assembly language, there’s still a strong correspondence between what’s written in C and the machine code. Most operations written in C can be completed with a small number of machine code instructions.
Languages for High-Level Programming encompass a wide range of abstractions, much like lower-level ones. Some languages, like Java, nonetheless let you have a lot of say in how the machine handles memory and data when you’re running them. On the other hand, Ruby and Python are very abstract programming languages. Because of this, you have less access to the lower-level functions, but the syntax is considerably simpler for you to comprehend and write. Class inheritance allows you to group things so that you only need to declare them once.
Variables, objects, routines, and loops are essential parts of high-level languages. These and other concepts help you tell the machine to do many things with short, concise statements. Where an assembly language has a nearly one-to-one correspondence between its commands and machine code commands, a higher-level language might be able to send dozens of commands with a single line of code.
It’s important to note that “high-level programming languages” might include everything that’s more abstract than an assembly language. It depends on who’s discussing the topic. So when you’re talking or reading about languages, ensure you’re on the same page.
Should You Learn a Low- or High-Level Language?
This is sure to be a common question among new and aspiring programmers. Are high- or low-level programming languages better? As with many programming questions, the high-level vs. low-level programming languages question isn’t so straightforward. Both types of languages have essential benefits.
Low-level languages, because they require little interpretation by the computer, generally run very fast. And they give programmers a lot of control over data storage, memory, and retrieval. High-level languages, however, are intuitively more comfortable to grasp and let programmers write code much more efficiently.
These languages are also considered “safer,” and more safeguards are in place that keeps coders from issuing poorly written commands that could cause damage. But they don’t give programmers as much control over low-level processes. Keeping this in mind, here are a selection of popular languages on a scale from low to high:
- C
- C++
- Java
- C#
- Perl
- Lisp
- JavaScript
- Python
- Ruby
- SQL
Of course, this is partly subjective. And it only includes a tiny cross-section of the available languages. But it should give you some idea of where the languages you’re interested in fall on the scale. What Do You Want to Do? When deciding what you want to learn, your first question should be what you want to program.
If you’re looking to write operating systems, kernels, or anything that needs to run at the absolute highest speed possible, a lower-level language might be the right choice. Much of Windows, OS X, and Linux are written in C and C-derived languages like C++ and Objective-C.
Many modern apps are written in higher-level or even domain-specific languages. Python and Ruby are especially popular for web apps, though HTML5 is becoming increasingly powerful. Languages like Swift, C#, JavaScript, and SQL have strengths and weaknesses. Consider Learning Both
I recently read a thread about this very question on a programming forum and came across an interesting suggestion: learn both at once. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of abstractions that make the higher-level language more efficient.
Of course, learning two languages at once isn’t easy, so you might want to stagger them a bit. And choosing two similar languages might be helpful as well. Again, we’ll return to the point I mentioned before selecting a language based on what you want to build. Do some research to determine which languages people in your field use. Then use that information to pick a high- and a low-level language, and start studying them. You’ll soon see the parallels and gain a much deeper understanding of programming.
Also Read: What are Loops in C and C++ Programming
Focus on Goals, Not Means
There are lots of criteria you can use to choose a programming language. High vs. low level is one of them. But in almost every case, the requirements you should be using are what you want to program.
Your project might benefit from a low-level language. Or it might be much more efficient in a high-level one. The key is to choose the right tool for the job. Focus on your goal; you’ll pick the correct language every time. Also, if you are looking to learn C++ for kids in a fun way, you can check out this article from Juni Learning. Do you have experience with both high- and low-level languages? Do you prefer one over the other? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
