4.2 · Lesson 1 of 4
High-level and low-level languages
Syllabus 4.2.1
What this lesson covers
- Compare high-level and low-level languages
Key vocabulary
- High-level language
- A programming language close to human language, e.g. Python or Java. Machine independent.
- Low-level language
- A language close to what the CPU runs: machine code or assembly language.
- Machine code
- Binary instructions that the CPU can execute directly.
- Instruction set
- All the machine code instructions a type of CPU can carry out.
- Opcode
- The part of an instruction that says what to do, e.g. ADD.
- Operand
- The part of an instruction that holds the value, or the address of the value, to use.
- Machine independent
- Can be translated to run on different types of processor. Also called portable.
Check your learning
- Quick check: 4 questions
- Key vocabulary test: 7 terms
- Activity 1: High or low level? · drag and drop
- Activity 2: Instruction formats · 8 questions
- Activity 3: Languages quiz · 8 questions