2.5.1 - Languages

Question 1

What is a high level language?

Answer 1

A language close to human syntax. Not specific to any hardware so can be translated for use on any other system. They have to be translated before they can be executed

Question 2

Advantages of high level languages

Answer 2

• Ease of use
• Easy to understand
• Easy to communicate with other programmers

Question 3

Disadvantages of high level languages

Answer 3

• Increased memory usage
• Require more processing power

Question 4

Examples of high level languages

Answer 4

Python, C++, Java

Question 5

What is source code?

Answer 5

The code for a program written in a high level language. This needs to be translated into machine code

Question 6

What is a low level language

Answer 6

A language that is closer to machine code than human language.

Question 7

What is machine code?

Answer 7

The binary instructions that a processor can understand, follow, and then execute

Question 8

Advantages of writing in low level languages

Answer 8

Gives more flexibility for programmers to do what they want

Question 9

Disadvantages of writing in low level languages

Answer 9

• Hard to understand and write
• This makes it harder to spot errors and debug

Question 10

What is assembly language

Answer 10

A low level language that uses mnemonics and is closely related to machine code

Question 11

What is object code

Answer 11

Code that can be understood by a processor (basically machine code)

Question 12

Why are translators needed

Answer 12

• They covert computer languages into machine code so the computer can understand it and run it
• They can identify any errors during translation

Question 13

Different types of translators

Answer 13

Compiler, Interpreter

Question 14

Advantages of compilers

Answer 14

• Translates the program in one go meaning the running of the program is subsequently faster
• Translates the program in one go meaning errors can be spotted without needing to run the program
• Produces an executable file that doesn’t need to be compiled again
• No need for the compiler to be present when the object code is run

Question 15

Differences between high and low level programming languages

Answer 15

• High level are easy to understand whilst low level are hard to understand
• High level languages have to be translated before they can be run but low level languages often don’t need to be translated to be run

Question 16

Advantages of interpreters

Answer 16

• Translates one line at a time so the exact line where the error is can be found
• Require less available memory

Question 17

Disadvantages of interpreters

Answer 17

• Run slower as each line needs to be translated before it can be run
• The program has to be translated every time it is run
• Source code program has to be supplied as they don’t produce an executable file. This could lead to unauthorised modification