Computer Languages and Translators Notes for SSC Exams

Computer languages and translators are asked regularly in SSC Computer Knowledge. The questions are about the levels of languages, the work of a compiler, an interpreter and an assembler, and the creators of popular languages. These computer languages and translators notes for SSC explain every point with tables and practice questions. Read it along with the Computer Software Notes and Generations of Computers Notes notes.

Levels of Computer Languages

Language Translators

The program written by the programmer is called the source code, and the converted program is called the object code.

Popular Programming Languages and Creators

Programming Terms

• Algorithm: a step-by-step method to solve a problem.
• Flowchart: a diagram that shows the steps of a program. An oval is the start or end, a rectangle is a process, a diamond is a decision and a parallelogram is input or output.
• Bug: an error in the program. Debugging is finding and removing the bugs.
• Syntax error is a mistake in the rules of the language. Logical error is a mistake in the logic, giving a wrong result.
• Source code is the program written in a language; object code is its machine form.

History of Programming Languages

Generations of Programming Languages

Programming Paradigms

• Procedural programming uses a sequence of steps and functions (C, Pascal).
• Object-oriented programming (OOP) uses objects and classes. Main ideas: class, object, encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism and abstraction (C++, Java, Python).
• Functional programming uses mathematical functions (LISP, Haskell).
• Scripting languages run through an interpreter, mostly for the web (JavaScript, PHP, Python).
• Markup languages describe the structure of a document (HTML, XML) and are not programming languages.
• Query languages ask questions of a database (SQL).

Compiler, Interpreter and Assembler Compared

A linker joins the object files and library files to make an executable file, and a loader loads the executable file into the memory to run it. The Java compiler produces bytecode, which the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) runs on any computer; this is the reason for "write once, run anywhere".

Program Development Steps

1. Problem definition: understand what has to be solved.
2. Algorithm design and flowchart: plan the steps.
3. Coding: write the program in a language.
4. Compiling and debugging: remove errors.
5. Testing: check the output for correct and wrong inputs.
6. Documentation and maintenance: write guides and update the program.

Types of Errors

Important Questions Explained

Question 1: Which language does a computer understand directly?
Answer: Machine language.

Question 2: Which translator converts assembly language into machine language?
Answer: An assembler.

Question 3: Which translator converts the whole program at once?
Answer: A compiler.

Question 4: Who developed the C language?
Answer: Dennis Ritchie, at Bell Labs.

Question 5: Who developed Java?
Answer: James Gosling, at Sun Microsystems.

Question 6: What is a flowchart symbol with a diamond shape used for?
Answer: A decision (yes or no).

Quick Tips to Remember

• Remember "compiler = whole program, interpreter = line by line".
• Link C with Dennis Ritchie, C++ with Stroustrup, Java with Gosling and Python with Guido van Rossum.
• Learn the three levels: machine, assembly and high-level.
• Remember FORTRAN as the first high-level language.
• Remember that HTML is a markup language and not a programming language.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mixing the compiler and the interpreter.
• Writing assembly language as a high-level language.
• Saying that the computer understands the English-like languages directly.
• Mixing the creators of C and C++.
• Calling HTML a programming language.

Quick Revision Points

• Machine language = 0s and 1s; assembly = mnemonics; high level = English-like.
• Assembler: assembly to machine. Compiler: whole program. Interpreter: line by line.
• C = Dennis Ritchie; C++ = Bjarne Stroustrup; Java = James Gosling.
• FORTRAN = first high-level language.
• Debugging means removing errors.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Which language is directly understood by a computer?
   Answer: Machine language (0s and 1s).
2. A program that translates the high-level language line by line is?
   Answer: Interpreter (Stops at the first error).
3. A program that translates the entire program at once is?
   Answer: Compiler (Reports all errors).
4. Which translator is used for assembly language?
   Answer: Assembler (Assembly to machine code).
5. Who developed C?
   Answer: Dennis Ritchie (Bell Labs).
6. Who developed Java?
   Answer: James Gosling (Sun Microsystems).
7. Which was the first high-level language?
   Answer: FORTRAN (1957).
8. A step-by-step procedure to solve a problem is called?
   Answer: Algorithm (Before programming).
9. What is finding and fixing errors called?
   Answer: Debugging (Bugs).
10. Which language is used for databases?
    Answer: SQL (Structured Query Language).

More Practice Questions With Answers

1. Who developed FORTRAN at IBM?
   Answer: John Backus (1957).
2. Which language is used for AI and was developed by John McCarthy?
   Answer: LISP (1958).
3. Who developed BASIC?
   Answer: Kemeny and Kurtz (1964).
4. Which language was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup?
   Answer: C++ (OOP).
5. Which language was developed by Guido van Rossum?
   Answer: Python (1991).
6. Which software runs Java bytecode?
   Answer: JVM (Java Virtual Machine).
7. Which error happens while a program is running?
   Answer: Runtime error (Divide by zero).
8. What is a flowchart parallelogram used for?
   Answer: Input or output (Symbol).
9. Which language is 4GL?
   Answer: SQL (Very high-level).
10. What does a linker do?
    Answer: Joins object files into an executable file (Program building).
11. Which paradigm uses class and object?
    Answer: Object-oriented programming (Java, C++).
12. Who developed JavaScript?
    Answer: Brendan Eich (1995).

How to Practise This Chapter

1. Read the tables once and learn the key facts by heart.
2. Revise the quick revision points the next day.
3. Attempt the practice questions above without looking at the answers.
4. Solve a full SSC CGL Tier 1 mini mock to test your general awareness.
5. Check the previous year papers to see how SSC asks computer questions.

Related Notes and Practice Papers

• Computer Software Notes
• Number System and Binary Conversion Notes
• Generations of Computers Notes
• Computer Knowledge Notes for SSC
• SSC CGL Tier 1 Mini Mock

Explore More SSC Subjects

SSC exams test many subjects, so connect this topic with the related subjects below:

• General Science Notes
• General Awareness Notes
• Quantitative Aptitude Notes
• Reasoning Notes
• Electrical Engineering (SSC JE) Notes
• All SSC subjects and notes

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the types of computer languages?

They are machine language, assembly language and high-level languages.

What is a compiler?

A compiler translates the whole high-level program into machine code at once.

What is an interpreter?

An interpreter translates and executes the program line by line.

What is an assembler?

An assembler converts assembly language into machine language.

Which language does the computer understand directly?

The computer understands machine language directly.

Which was the first high-level language?

FORTRAN, developed in 1957, is considered the first high-level language.

Who developed the C language?

Dennis Ritchie developed C at Bell Labs in 1972.

What is the difference between a syntax error and a logical error?

A syntax error breaks the rules of the language, while a logical error gives a wrong result because of wrong logic.

How many questions come from computer languages in SSC exams?

One question usually comes from languages and translators.

What is object-oriented programming?

Object-oriented programming is a way of writing programs using classes and objects, with ideas such as encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism.

What is bytecode?

Bytecode is the intermediate code made by the Java compiler, which is run by the Java Virtual Machine on any computer.

What is the difference between a syntax error and a runtime error?

A syntax error is a mistake in the rules of the language found before running, while a runtime error happens while the program is running.