A programming language is a system of notation used by programmers to write computer programs. It is a set of instructions written in a specific language, such as C, C++, Java, or Python, to perform a specific task. Programming languages allow humans to translate their thoughts into instructions that computers can understand. They provide a structured mechanism for defining pieces of data and the operations or transformations that may be carried out automatically on that data.
Programming languages can be text-based formal languages or graphical. They consist of a set of rules that allow string values to be converted into various ways of generating machine code, or, in the case of visual programming languages, graphical elements. Once a programmer learns the languages rules, syntax, and structure, they write the source code in a text editor or integrated development environment (IDE) . Then, the programmer often compiles the code into machine language that can be understood by the computer.
There are many different types of programming languages, including procedural, object-oriented, and scripting languages. Procedural languages follow a sequence of statements or commands to achieve a desired output. Object-oriented languages treat a program as a group of objects composed of data and program elements. Scripting languages are used to automate repetitive tasks, manage dynamic web content, or support processes.
