High level language is a computer programming language with syntax and grammar crudely approximating a natural language. In computer science, a high level language with strong abstraction from the details of the computer in comparison to low level programming languages, it may use natural language elements, be easier to use, or may automate significant areas of computing system.
A high level language is a programming language that support system development at a high level or abstraction, thereby freeing the developer from keeping in his head lots of details that are irrelevant to the problem at hand.
High level language was originally used to distinguish things like assembly language .
Definition of terms
What is high
The term high is said to be greater or better than normal in quantity or quality.
What is level
Level is the amount of something that exists in a particular time.
What is language?
Language can be referred to as the system of communication in speech and writing that is used by people of a particular country or area.
What is High level language (HLL)
High level language is a programming language that supports system development at a high level or abstraction, thereby freeing the developer from keeping in his head lots of details that are irrelevant to the problem at hand.
Advantage of HLL are as stated below:
- HLL IS EASY TO LEARN AND USE
- Programs written in HLL takes less time to write.
- Errors can be easily CORRECTED
- It has SYNTAX and SEMANTICS like the English language
- programs developed an HLL are easy to maintain and document.
Disadvantages of HLL
- It has the highest level of abstraction (i.e. it is not close to the machine)
- Programs written in HLL takes time to execute.
Summary of HLL
High level languages in computer science is used to support system development at a high level or abstraction, thereby freeing the developer from keeping in his head lots of details that are irrelevant to the problem at hand.
In High level language, it is easy to learn and use, its errors can easily be discovered and corrected. It programs is fast to write, it has syntax and semantics just like in English language and it programs can be developed and are easy to maintain and document.
Just like others, High-level languages still has its disadvantage but they are few. Some of which are that it has the highest level of abstraction which is not close to the machine and that even when it takes less time to write, it takes time to execute.
Originally, high level language was used to distinguish things like assembly language. Some examples of HIGH-LEVEL LANGUAGES are:
- C + +
- C
- BASIC
- Pascal
- Ada
- ALGOL
- FORTRAM
- LISP
- PILOT
- LOGO
- COBOL