Programming Languages – GCSE Computer Science Edexcel Revision

Basics of Programming Languages

A programming language is a special language used by programmers to develop software programs, scripts, or other set of instructions for computers to execute.
Programming languages have a unique set of syntax and semantics that dictates how the programs written in them should be structured and behave.
The two broad categories of programming languages are low-level languages and high-level languages.

Low-level languages are closer to the hardware and are not easy to read or write, as they often incorporate binary code and location-specific memory addresses.
Examples of low-level languages include Assembly Language and Machine Language.
While challenging to understand, low-level languages offer a high degree of control over system resources.

High-level languages are easier to read and write, as they are designed to be closer to natural languages.
Examples of high-level languages include Python, Java, C++ and JavaScript.
Unlike low-level languages, high-level languages are less detailed about the hardware data, focusing more on algorithms and data structures.

Programming languages can also be classified as either interpreted or compiled, depending on how their code is executed.
In interpreted languages, the code is executed line by line by an interpreter at runtime. These languages are easy to debug and include Python and JavaScript.
In compiled languages, the entire code is converted into machine code before it is run. These languages typically offer better performance and include C and C++.

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a paradigm where software is structured around ‘objects’, which can be manipulations of real-world entities.
Key elements of OOP include encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction.

Procedural programming is a paradigm that structures software around procedures or routines. It involves dividing programs into small parts that can be reused across different programs.
Functional programming is a paradigm that models software as a series of mathematical functions with no changing state. It promotes code simplicity and readability.