Low-Level vs. High-Level Programming Languages

Key takeaways

High-level languages are typically easier to learn, but must first be compiled into lower-level code for computers to run commands. 

• According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a software engineer makes a median annual salary of $133,080 [1].

• Popular high-level programming languages include Python, Java, C++, and PHP. 

• You can build programming skills through boot camps, online courses, certificate programs, and by earning a traditional degree. 

Learning about the difference between low-level and high-level programming languages builds versatile skills that open career paths, from web development to data science. If you’re ready to build the in-demand skills to become a software engineer, try the IBM Full-Stack JavaScript Developer Professional Certificate to learn both the front and back-end of developing programs, websites, and cloud-native applications. 

What is a low-level programming language?

A low-level programming language directly instructs the computer, usually in binary, decimal, or hexadecimal form. Low-level programming languages, like machine code or assembly language, are difficult for humans to read and comprehend. Every command given to the computer has to be completely written out. 

Low-level language examples include:

• Machine language: Uses 1s and 0s to produce binary code to represent data and program instructions

• Assembly language: Uses mnemonic codes to represent commands and data, such as A for Add, MP for multiply, and IFIRST and ILAST to input first and last name data

What is a high-level programming language?

High-level programming languages are easier for humans to learn, read, and comprehend. They are compiled or translated into a low-level language for computers to execute. This action allows programmers to skip many tedious and time-consuming steps within coding to build more complex code. 

High-level programming features abstraction, which is also referred to as information hiding. Abstraction involves eliminating extraneous details. High-level programming languages are designed to be easily understood by humans, allowing developers to write instructions that computers can interpret and execute.

High-level language examples include:

• Python

• JavaScript

• Perl

• PHP

• C++

• FORTRAN

• Ruby

• C#

• R

• SQL

High-level programming language vs. low-level 

High-level programming allows developers to work more intuitively with easier-to-read code and abstraction. If you write a command for a computer to show the word “hello” in binary, your code may look something like this: 01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111. It might be difficult to remember what those ones and zeros are doing, let alone what word they are spelling out. 

If you compare that to the same command written in Python, it would look like this: print(“hello”). A high-level language makes it easier to look back and see the purpose of each line of code. When syntax is easier to understand, it’s easier to learn.

It’s important to remember that the computer still needs that command written in low-level code to complete the task of printing “hello.” However, a high-level language, such as JavaScript, PHP, Python, or Perl, will compile the code automatically into a version the computer can understand. 

Is Bash a high-level language?

Yes, Bash/Shell is considered a high-level scripting language because it uses variables, functions, quoting, and flow. Bash stands for “Bourne Again Shell,” named after Stephen Bourne, the creator of the original Unix shell. You can use Bash to manipulate files and data within a Unix-based OS. 

Abstraction in programming languages

Abstraction also makes code more efficient to write. One way to understand abstraction is to imagine you were giving someone instructions on how to make a peanut butter sandwich. You might give an instruction similar to, “Spread peanut butter on the bread using a butter knife.” Most humans would understand how to execute this task. 

However, a computer would get lost right away. A computer requires much more specific instructions, such as: 

• Take the peanut butter out of the cupboard.

• Close the cupboard.

• Open the peanut butter.

• Take a knife out of the silverware drawer.

• Use the utensil end to scoop a small amount of peanut butter out of the jar.

• Spread the peanut butter from the knife to the bread.

Humans use abstraction to communicate more efficiently, and abstraction in code works similarly. In Python, for example, you can use a few lines of text to write a conditional loop, an action the computer would repeatedly take as long as the correct conditions are met. While writing a loop in a low-level language is possible, it requires many more lines of text, and every step of the process needs to be explicitly stated. 

How to learn a high-level computer programming language

Developers and programmers' jobs require knowledge of high-level programming languages, such as Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, and SQL.

Learning paths

Whether you want to pursue a new career or just brush up on your programming language skills for fun, the popularity of many high-level programming languages means you’ll find various tutorials and information online. Some of the most popular methods to learn high-level programming languages include:

• Boot camps: Coding boot camps are highly focused courses that give you real-world career skills as opposed to the sometimes theoretical nature of a computer science degree. Coding boot camps can be rigorous, but they can help you gain many skills in a relatively short period. 

• Courses: Online courses allow you to study coding at your own pace without committing to a degree program or specialization. An individual course can introduce you to new subjects or help round out other educational endeavors. You can learn JavaScript, for example, by taking the JavaScript for Beginners Specialization from UC Davis on Coursera.

• Guided Projects: Guided Projects are projects you complete with an instructor or other resources available to assist you if needed. A Guided Project helps you practice your skills in a low-risk environment. These resources take you step-by-step through a programming project, such as Create C# App Inheritance, Composition, and Aggregation.

• Certificates: Earning a certificate gives you a credential you can use to show employers your skills and career readiness. For example, you could earn an IBM Back-End Development Professional Certificate to have a credential in server-side Python, backend development, and databases, among other skills. 

• Traditional degrees: In a traditional, four-year bachelor's degree in computer science, you’ll have the opportunity to learn the basics of computer programming, including programming languages. On Coursera, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science offered by the University of London could help you earn your degree at your own pace. 

Which high-level programming languages should I study?

Deciding which high-level programming languages to learn first may depend on what career you’d like to have. For example, if you’re interested in working as a database administrator, you’ll likely need to learn a database language like SQL. If you’d like to become a mobile developer, you’ll typically want to learn Kotlin, Swift, Java, or JavaScript. If you aren’t sure where to start, you might consider one of the five most commonly used programming languages in the world: JavaScript, HTML/CSS, SQL, Python, or Bash/Shell [2].

Jobs that rely on high-level programming languages

Programming languages are important for many different careers in information services and computer science. Four careers that rely on high-level programming languages include computer and information systems manager, software engineer, data scientist, and full-stack developer. 

1. Computer and information systems manager

Median annual US salary (BLS): $171,200 [3]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 15 percent [3]

Education requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computers, information systems, or related field

A computer and information systems manager plans and manages all company activity related to computer systems, including managing an IT staff, setting budgets, overseeing protocols, and acquiring new equipment. 

2. Software engineer

Median annual US salary (BLS): $133,080 [1]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 15 percent [4]

Education requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computers, information technology, engineering, math, or related field

Software engineers help design and create software, sometimes working individually and in teams. Software engineers with specific titles, such as quality analyst, may be primarily engaged in one part of the software production cycle, or they may have a more rounded skill requirement. 

Read more: What Does a Software Engineer Do?

3. Data scientist

Median annual US salary (BLS): $112,590 [5]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 34 percent [5]

Education requirements: Bachelor’s degree in math, statistics, computer science, or related field

Data scientists determine how to collect, implement data collection systems, and analyze data to help companies and organizations make informed business decisions. In this role, you will also model information and present your interpretation of the data to senior stakeholders. 

4. Web developer

Median annual US salary (BLS): $95,380 [6]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 7 percent [6]

Education requirements: Varies from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree in computer science, programming, or a related field.

Web developers design, create, and maintain websites. They can serve a specific role, such as page designer, or multiple roles, such as full-stack developers who work on both the front and back ends of a website. 

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