Low-Level Language

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What Does Low-Level Language Mean?

A low-level language is a programming language that deals with a computer’s hardware components and constraints. It has no (or only a minute level of) abstraction in reference to a computer and works to manage a computer’s operational semantics.

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A low-level language may also be referred to as a computer’s native language.

Techopedia Explains Low-Level Language

Low-level languages are designed to operate and handle the entire hardware and instructions set architecture of a computer directly.

Low-level languages are considered to be closer to computers. In other words, their prime function is to operate, manage and manipulate the computing hardware and components. Programs and applications written in a low-level language are directly executable on the computing hardware without any interpretation or translation.

Machine language and assembly language are popular examples of low-level languages.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.