What is a programming language?: Difference between revisions
Mr. MacKenty (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
Mr. MacKenty (talk | contribs) |
||
Line 43: | Line 43: | ||
* Unambiguous meaning | * Unambiguous meaning | ||
* Consistent grammar & syntax | * Consistent grammar & syntax | ||
== Do you understand this? == | |||
== Standards == | == Standards == |
Revision as of 06:06, 9 August 2017
![](/images/f/f0/Arrows.png)
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]
The most basic instructions a computer can be given are:
- ADD
- COMPARE
- RETRIEVE
- STORE
Complex capabilities are composed of 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 0002
An 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?!?
Essential features of a programming language[edit]
- Fixed vocabulary
- Unambiguous meaning
- Consistent grammar & syntax
Do you understand this?[edit]
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.