What is a programming language?
Programming basics[1]
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 code it like this:
list_of_numbers = [12,1,54,8,19,4,13,21,12,89,-1,6]
for
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?!?
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.