What is a programming language?: Difference between revisions
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Complex capabilities are composed of very large numbers of very simple operations. | Complex capabilities are composed of very large numbers of very simple operations. | ||
If we ask a simple question: what is the biggest item on this list, we might code | If we ask a simple question: what is the biggest item on this list, we might use '''complex''' code like this: | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="php"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="php"> | ||
list_of_numbers = [12,1,54,8,19,4,13,21,12,89,-1,6] | $list_of_numbers = [12,1,54,8,19,4,13,21,12,89,-1,6] | ||
echo max($list_of_numbers); | |||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
But the computer (using '''fundamental operations''') will process the above instructions like this: | |||
<syntaxhighlight lang="assembly"> | |||
LOAD register 00001 | |||
ADD 12 | |||
STORE result | |||
COMPARE result to register 0002 | |||
</syntaxhighlight> | |||
== An example == | == An example == | ||
Revision as of 09:35, 5 October 2016
A programming language is a formal computer language or constructed language designed to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly a computer. Programming languages can be used to create programs to control the behavior of a machine or to express algorithms.[2]
- ADD
- COMPARE
- RETRIEVE
- STORE
Complex capabilities are composed of very large numbers of very simple operations.
If we ask a simple question: what is the biggest item on this list, we might use complex code like this:
$list_of_numbers = [12,1,54,8,19,4,13,21,12,89,-1,6]
echo max($list_of_numbers);
But the computer (using fundamental operations) will process the above instructions like this:
LOAD register 00001
ADD 12
STORE result
COMPARE result to register 0002An example[edit]
Below is an example of a program language designed to communicate instructions to a machine. The piano is "fed" instructions which enable it to play a simple song. The song is an example of a program. Can you imagine how difficult it might be to "write" these instructions?!?
Standards[edit]
- State the fundamental operations of a computer.
- Distinguish between fundamental and compound operations of a computer.
- Explain the essential features of a computer language.
- Explain the need for higher level languages.
- Outline the need for a translation process from a higher level language to machine executable code.