The lowest-level
programming language (except for computers that utilize programmable
microcode) Machine languages are the only
languages understood by
computers. While easily understood by computers, machine languages are almost impossible for humans to use because they consist entirely of numbers.
Programmers, therefore, use either a high-level programming language or an
assembly language. An assembly language contains the same
instructions as a machine language, but the instructions and
variables have
names instead of being just numbers.
Programs written in high-level languages are translated into assembly language or machine language by a compiler. Assembly language programs are translated into machine language by a program called an assembler.
Every CPU has its own unique machine language. Programs must be rewritten or recompiled, therefore, to run on different types of computers.
