High Level Language vs Low Level Language

High Level Language vs Low Level Language

Computer programming languages are broadly categorized into 2 types namely – High Level Language and Low Level Language. Abbreviation for High Level Language is HLL and Low Level Language is LLL. The former language is pretty popular with developers and some example of HLL are Ruby, C, C++, BASIC and JAVA including others. HLL allows users/developers to communicate with a computer for doing a job via a syntax that is easy and intuitive to understand.

Compared to High Level language, Low Level Language is less readable by humans and difficult to understand and learn, still easier and faster for the computer to comprehend. Infact, LLL requires hardware knowledge unlike HLL. Some of examples of Low level Language are Machine language and Assembly language.

High level programming languages are more structured and more spontaneous than low level languages. Additionally, it requires translation and execution which is pretty time consuming. Contrary to HLL, LLL does not require translation support and execution time is pretty fast.

In terms of modification of programs, Low level Language is at downside, since High level language is customizable and it becomes pretty easy to modify programs written in HLL.  One more area where high level language scores over low level language is wrt abstraction where it allows more abstraction while the latter provides very little to negligible abstraction.

Some scenarios where LLL has upper hand are Hardware level proximity and Memory Usage. Many facilities are not provided at hardware level by HLL whereas LLL is supportive of writing program at hardware level. Furthermore, high level language utilizes substantial amount of memory during processing and execution, while on the other hand, low level language employs minimal memory in running and executing.

High Level Language vs Low Level Language: Comparison Table

Parameters	High Level Language	Low level Language
Hardware knowledge	Not required	Required
Ease of learning	Easy to understand and learn	Difficult to understand and learn
Performance	Slow performance	Faster than high level language
Examples	•C •C++ •BASIC •JAVA	•Machine language •Assembly language
Translation	Required	Not required
Execution	Programs in HLL are slow in execution	Programs in LLL are fast in execution
Modification	Ease of modification for programs written in HLL	Difficulty of modification for programs written in LLL
Abstraction	Allow more abstraction	Very little to negligible abstraction
Hardware level proximity	Many facilities not provided at hardware level	Supportive of writing program at hardware level
Memory Usage	More	Less

Download the difference table here.