Machine language is a programming language instruction that is actually read and acted on by the computer processing circuitry. Machine language is written in binary numbers and is virtually impossible for humans to read; for this reason, programmers use assembly language or a high-level programming language to write programs, which are then compiled into machine language. Machine language takes advantage of the unique characteristics of a given processor, a compiled program written for one processor (or processor family) will not execute on a different processor design. To develop programs for more than one system, it is necessary to use compilers that generate the code needed for each type of processor. See assembly language, binary notation, compiler, microcode, RISC.
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Technipages Explains Machine Language
Machine language is a language that consists of binary bits that is read, understood and interpreted by a computer machine. For most programmers to be able to write code and programs in machine language, they can only do so with a special device called an assembler, the usage of the assembler has led to the coinage of the assembly language, which is a language dedicated to working with machine language.
A machine language is the native language of a computer system, no other language or programming language can be understood by a computer machine. After a computer program is written, it is the duty of the compiler to compile the program, once it has been compiled, it is already broken down into binary bits, only until this point is a written code understandable to a machine.
It was developed by Charles Babbage, assisted by Lady Ada Lovelace, was in 1883, while he was developing his own mechanical computer, the Analytical Machine. The development of the analytical machine had started as far back as 1842, Ada Lovelace coded the analytical machine whose job was to proffer solutions to calculative problems.
Common Uses of Machine Language
- Machine language is a language that is understandable to the machines, but with the aid of an assembler, humans too can use it.
- A compiler is bridging the gap between humans and computers by making machine language understandable for humans.
- Assembly language is a rip-off of machine language as it is dedicated to understanding machine language
Common Misuses of Machine Language
- Machine language is the native language of programmers, as it would still have to be compiled.
- Apart from being dedicated to machines, machine language can be understood by humans