C/C++, low or high level?

Sentral · 01-23-2007, 08:25 PM

I'm getting mixed information on this topic. Some people say C/C++ is a high level language, while others say it's low level. But to me, it really depends on what your comparing it to. If you compare C++ to, say, Machine Language or ASM, then yes, I would think of C++ as high level. But if you compare C++ to Python, then I would consider C++ low-level. Many sites say different things, and I've seen that they are different because of how they are compared. I think it's low-level, but I don't know to much. What do you think?

psychopath · 01-23-2007, 08:32 PM

I always thougt it was low-level. But that's because I compare it to languages like C#.

Mario F. · 01-23-2007, 08:33 PM

You are right in assuming the term is best used when compared to other programming languages. However, there's a somewhat accepted notion that high-level languages are languages that stay away from the machine language. The more the stay away from it and the closer they are to natural language (or the easier they are to get into), the more high-level they are.

I think it's correct to assume C++ as an high level language. It stays clear from machine language, does not offer many options for direct access into the machine internals, it's highly portable, and it's syntax is very english-like.

Kennedy · 01-23-2007, 11:23 PM

The list that I was taught was (low to high):

Object Code (written with a HEX editor, Debug, or some type of interpreter)
Assembly

(Rather large step)

C
Fortran

(short step, but fairly far)

C++
Ada

From here, it gets rather hairy, but it would be something like VC++, VB, Java, there was no C# back in my school days.

DavidP · 01-23-2007, 11:43 PM

Many people refer to C (and especially C++) as "Middle Level" Languages, because that gap exists which has been mentioned in all the previous posts.

01-23-2007, 08:25 PM	#1
Sentral For Narnia! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Narnia Posts: 719	C/C++, low or high level? I'm getting mixed information on this topic. Some people say C/C++ is a high level language, while others say it's low level. But to me, it really depends on what your comparing it to. If you compare C++ to, say, Machine Language or ASM, then yes, I would think of C++ as high level. But if you compare C++ to Python, then I would consider C++ low-level. Many sites say different things, and I've seen that they are different because of how they are compared. I think it's low-level, but I don't know to much. What do you think? __________________ Videogame Memories! A site dedicated to keeping videogame memories alive! http://www.videogamememories.com/ Share your experiences with us now! *"We will game forever!"*
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01-23-2007, 08:32 PM	#2
psychopath The Right Honourable Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Where circles begin. Posts: 1,061	I always thougt it was low-level. But that's because I compare it to languages like C#. __________________ Memorial University of Newfoundland Computer Science www.daniel-cook.net Mac and OpenGL evangelist.
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01-23-2007, 08:33 PM	#3
Mario F. (?<!re)tired Join Date: May 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 5,220	You are right in assuming the term is best used when compared to other programming languages. However, there's a somewhat accepted notion that high-level languages are languages that stay away from the machine language. The more the stay away from it and the closer they are to natural language (or the easier they are to get into), the more high-level they are. I think it's correct to assume C++ as an high level language. It stays clear from machine language, does not offer many options for direct access into the machine internals, it's highly portable, and it's syntax is very english-like. __________________ Originally Posted by brewbuck: Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.
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01-23-2007, 11:23 PM	#4
Kennedy Jaxom's & Imriel's Dad Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 801	The list that I was taught was (low to high): Object Code (written with a HEX editor, Debug, or some type of interpreter) Assembly (Rather large step) C Fortran (short step, but fairly far) C++ Ada From here, it gets rather hairy, but it would be something like VC++, VB, Java, there was no C# back in my school days.
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01-23-2007, 11:43 PM	#5
DavidP l'Anziano Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 2,573	Many people refer to C (and especially C++) as "Middle Level" Languages, because that gap exists which has been mentioned in all the previous posts. __________________ My Website "Circular logic is good because it is."
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