Computer Programming: Importance, Types, Levels [2023]

Are you confused that what exactly Computer Programming Language is, its importance, Types, and Levels?

By reading this you would be well-equipped with the knowledge that what is Computer Programming etc.

Unfolding the Topic:

Computer Programming is a technical skill to design and implement a set of instructions, for a machine, to perform a specific task. Computer Programming can be learned easily because its nature is joyful and interesting to learn and provides you a proper approach or road map to follow.

This article is for those students or someone new to Information Technology (I.T) or the Internet of Things (I.O.T).

This piece of writing would provide the answers to the most common questions arising in the mind of one new to the field of Computer Programming Development.

Computer Programming

Why is Computer Programming important?

Are computers self-learner? Is there no need to instruct it? Obviously, not, Computers are dumb machines until and unless they are properly instructed to perform any specific task or so.

Computers, highly elegant machines, help humans in almost all fields of life when properly programmed or instructed. Computers are used in the most important tasks of human societies i.e., Data Management, Technological Development, Global Communication, Life Luxuries, Health Care, Space exploration, Advanced Computations, and artificial intelligence. 

How can one become a computer programmer?

Learning Computer Programming is similar to the process of Learning any Human Language. As Human Communication uses some gestures with oral expressions or written words to be more expressive, Computer Programming Languages need some syntax and technical skills similar to basic arithmetic or other basic concepts of  mathematics.

The syntax differs with the language you are using, but the pseudo code or concepts remain the same to achieve the required tasks to get done by the program. The syntax of some languages can be easier or hard compared to others.

To start programming, it is often suggested and do not save me, it is would be better to start with C/C++ language with feature essential for learning i.e., case sensitiveness, differences between datatypes and many others, instead of with lose typed languages or more human understandable syntax JavaScript, etc.

Levels of Programming Languages:

         A Programming Language can be:

1. Low-Level Language:

i. Machine Language:

Machine Language is very difficult to understand by any Human as it uses only 0s and 1s to give instructions to computers. This type of Computer Programming Language is very quickly understood by machine/microprocessor, therefore it is faster.

e.g.  Instruction-1:      0101 0110 0100 0101 0110 0010

ii. Assembly Language:

Assembly Language is moderately difficult to understand by any Human as well as by machine. The code of assembly language is first converted into machine language by the assembler and then machine language codes are used as instructions, that’s why it is slower as compared to machine language.

e.g., 8080,8085, etc.

    Instruction-1:        MOV L, A

2. High-Level Language:

High-Level Languages are straightforward to understand by any Human as they are similar to human native language i.e. English, but very costly for machines to understand. 

High-Level languages use compilers to convert instructions into byte code or any other type and then convert them into machine language. And in last similar to other machine languages instructions are used to perform tasks.

e.g. Python, Java, C++, JavaScript (ES-6), Php etc 

        Instruction-1:          int a=4;

                                        int b=6;

                                        int sum = a  + b;

Types of computer programming with examples:

1. Procedural Programming Language:

This type of Computer Programming Language uses a series or sequence of instructions or commands to achieve the goals of the program. This pattern of sequence of statements is called a procedure. A program of procedural language’s code can have one or more procedures within it.

Common examples are:

• C and C++
• Java

2. Functional Programming Language:

Instead of focusing on a sequence of instructions or commands to achieve required outputs, this type of language focuses on the output of specific mathematical functions and evolutions. 

The functions are reusable modules of statements and perform specific tasks depending on the inputs defined. Functions always return something i.e., Strings, Numbers, or any other type of data.

Common examples are:

• Scala
• Haskell
• Erlang

3. Object Oriented Programming (OOP):

OOP Languages uses objects(blueprints) of classes to achieve the required feature in the program. Objects can be reused within or outside the parent class in the program. OOP promotes the culture of security in the program by using many features i.e. encapsulation etc.

Common examples are:

• Java
• Python
• Ruby
• Php etc.

4. Scripting Language:

Scripting Languages are widely used to automate repetitive tasks, manage web content, and support different processes in larger web applications. These languages bring life to the static content of websites.

Common examples are:

• JavaScript – Node JS
• Php
• Perl
• Python 
• Bash

5. Logic Programming:

This type of computer programing language defines a series of rules or facts to instruct the machine on how to make progressive decisions. These languages do not command the statements of the program to the computer to perform.

Common examples are:

• Prolog
• Datalog
• Absys

What are the Front End Programming Languages?

Front End languages are used to design and develop the UI – User Interface of the website or an application. These languages can listen to the tasks performed by the user within the UI of the application or site i.e., Mouse Hover, Click, Scrolling, and many more.

With HTML, a markup language used for creating the skeleton of all designs, and CSS, a design language used to style the components made with HTML, front-end programming languages completes the design part of an application or site.

Nowadays frameworks of JavaScript i.e. React JS, Angular JS, and Vue JS, etc. are very useful to make attractive and elegant designs for both platforms.

e.g.  JavaScript etc.

What are the Back End Programming Languages?

Back End languages are used to make routing for website links, do tasks like search, etc., interact, and manage databases and template files. These languages can perform multiple tasks for different applications i.e. Mobile Apps, Web Apps, and Websites.

These languages can be used to bridge the UI with the Server either by embedded code or with APIs – Application Programmable Interfaces i.e. REST, SOAP APIs.

Back End Frame Works includes:

• Django, Flask, etc.   - Python
• Laravel etc.              - PHP
• Express JS etc.         - JavaScript/Node JS

    e.g.  

• Python
• PHP
• Java
• JavaScript etc.