Programming Languages | CompTIA Tech+ FC0-U71 | 4.1

In this post, you’re going to learn about the different types of programming languages and how they function.  We’ll compare and contrast the three main categories:  interpreted languages, compiled programming languages, and query languages, including assembly languages.

Let’s break these down into their key types and functions.

Overview of Programming Languages

Before we dive into the specifics, it’s important to understand what programming languages are.  In simple terms, programming languages are a way for humans to communicate instructions to a computer.  These languages are either high-level (easier for humans to read) or low-level (closer to the computer’s machine code).

The three primary categories we’ll focus on are:

• Interpreted Languages (including scripting languages and markup languages)
• Compiled Programming Languages
• Query Languages (including assembly languages)

Each of these categories has its own purpose, benefits, and limitations.  Let’s start by discussing interpreted languages.

Interpreted Languages

Interpreted languages are programming languages in which the code is executed line-by-line by an interpreter at runtime, rather than being compiled ahead of time.

There are two major types of interpreted languages:

• Scripting Languages
• Markup Languages

Scripting Languages

Scripting languages are used to write short programs or scripts that automate tasks.  They are interpreted by an interpreter, meaning that the code is processed one line at a time during runtime.

Examples of scripting languages include:

• JavaScript:  Primarily used for adding interactive elements to websites.  JavaScript is interpreted by web browsers in real-time, enabling dynamic behavior on websites.
• Python:  A versatile & widely used scripting language known for its simplicity and readability.  Python is used in web development, automation, artificial intelligence, and more.
• Ruby:  Often used for web applications, Ruby is interpreted at runtime, making it easy to make changes to code without recompiling.
• PHP:  A server-side scripting language used for web development, especially for dynamic websites and databases.

Advantages of Scripting Languages

• Ease of Use:  Scripting languages are typically easier to learn and use, making them great for beginners.
• Platform Independence:  Since interpreted languages don’t need to be compiled, they can run on any system with an appropriate interpreter.
• Flexibility:  These languages are highly flexible and allow for rapid development.

Disadvantages

• Slower Performance:  Because the code is interpreted line-by-line at runtime, scripting languages are generally slower than compiled languages.
• Limited Access to System Resources:  Interpreted languages often don’t have the same level of access to system resources as compiled languages.

Markup Languages

Markup languages are used to define the structure and presentation of text, especially in web development.

Examples include

• HTML (Hypertext Markup Language):  The standard language used to create and structure web pages.  HTML elements define headings, paragraphs, links, and more, making it essential for web development.
• XML (eXtensible Markup Language):  Used to store and transport data.  XML allows users to define custom tags and is commonly used in web services and configuration files.
• CSS (Cascading Style Sheets):  Though technically not a full programming language, CSS is a style sheet language used to describe the presentation of HTML documents.  It controls the layout and appearance of web pages.

Advantages of Markup Languages

• Structure & Organization:  Markup languages are great for structuring data or web content.
• Separation of Content & Presentation:  Especially in web development, markup languages like HTML and CSS separate content from its presentation, allowing for easier maintenance and updates.

Disadvantages

• Limited Logic:  Markup languages are not designed to perform complex computations or logic.  They are mainly for formatting and structuring content.

Now that we’ve covered interpreted languages, let’s move on to compiled programming languages.

Compiled Programming Languages

Compiled programming languages are languages where the source code is translated into machine code (binary) through a compiler before execution.  The compilation process translates the entire program in one go, creating an executable file that can run on its own without the need for an interpreter.

Examples of Compiled Languages

• C:  One of the oldest and most widely used programming languages.  It’s powerful and provides low-level access to the system resources.
• C++:  An extension of C, adding object-oriented programming features.  It’s used in system/software development, game development, and more.
• Java:  Although Java runs in the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), it is considered both compiled and interpreted, as it is compiled into bytecode before being executed by the JVM.
• Go (Golang):  A statically typed, compiled programming language designed by Google.  It is known for its efficiency in system programming and networking.

Advantages of Compiled Languages

• Speed:  Once compiled, the code runs much faster than interpreted languages because it’s translated directly into machine code.
• Optimization:  Compilers can optimize code during compilation, resulting in highly efficient programs.
• Full Access to System Resources:  Compiled languages allow for low-level access to memory and hardware, making them ideal for system-level programming.

Disadvantages

• Development Time:  The compilation process can slow down development since the code needs to be compiled before testing.
• Platform Dependency:  Compiled code is often platform-specific, meaning you may need to recompile the code to run it on different operating systems.

Compiled languages are best suited for applications where performance and efficiency are critical, such as operating systems, game development, and real-time systems.

Query Languages

Query languages are specialized languages designed to retrieve, manipulate, and manage data in databases.  They are typically used in database management systems (DBMS) to interact with stored data.

Examples of Query Languages

• SQL (Structured Query Language):  The most commonly used query language, SQL is used for managing and querying relational databases.  SQL commands can select, insert, update, and delete data in database tables.
• GraphQL:  A query language for APIs that allow clients to request specific data, unlike traditional REST APIs.  GraphQL is flexible and allows for efficient data retrieval.
• XPath / XQuery:  Used to query XML data, these languages help retrieve and manipulate XML documents.

Advantages of Query Languages

• Specialized for Data Manipulation:  Query languages like SQL are specifically designed to interact with large sets of data, making them extremely efficient for database management.
• Simplifies Complex Queries:  Query languages are optimized for retrieving data with complex filters and conditions, simplifying the process for developers and database administrators.

Disadvantages

• Limited Use:  Query languages are highly specialized and are not suitable for general-purpose programming.

Assembly Languages

Finally, let’s talk about assembly languages.

Assembly language is a low-level programming language that provides a way to write instructions in a format that is readable to humans, but closely aligned with machine code.

Characteristics of Assembly Languages

• Assembly languages are specific to a particular computer architecture.
• They require the programmer to manage memory and processor registers directly.
• Assembly instructions are one step above machine code, making them very fast and efficient, though more difficult to write.

Examples

• x86 Assembly:  Used in Intel x86 processors.
• ARM Assembly:  Used in ARM architecture, which powers many mobile devices and embedded systems.

Advantages of Assembly Languages

• High Performance:  Assembly language offers direct access to hardware and can produce very efficient and optimized code.
• Control Over System Resources:  It allows the programmer to control processor registers and memory, making it ideal for hardware-level programming.

Disadvantages

• Complexity:  Assembly is much harder to learn and use than high-level languages.
• Limited Portability:  Assembly language is highly specific to hardware architectures, making it non-portable between different systems.

Assembly languages are typically used in situations where performance is critical, such as embedded systems, real-time applications, and low-level device drivers.

Summary

To wrap up, let’s quickly summarize the key differences between these categories of programming languages:

• Interpreted languages (scripting and markup languages) are executed line-by-line at runtime and are ideal for dynamic and flexible applications but tend to be slower.
• Compiled programming languages translate source code into machine code before execution, offering high performance but requiring a compilation step.
• Query languages are specialized for interacting with databases, providing efficient ways to retrieve and manipulate large datasets.
• Assembly languages offer low-level control over hardware and high efficiency but are more complex and less portable.

Understanding the strengths and limitations of each language category will help you select the right tool for the task at hand and is essential for the CompTIA Tech+ exam.