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Languages can also be divided into '''low-level languages''' such as Assembly, and '''high-level languages''' such as [[Cobol|COBOL]]. Low-level languages are those where the program code interacts directly (or fairly directly), with the CPU, whereas high-level languages have a higher level of abstraction, leaving the compiler or interpreter to deal with issuing the appropriate commands to the CPU, and similar issues.  

Languages can also be divided into '''low-level languages''' such as Assembly, and '''high-level languages''' such as [[Cobol|COBOL]]. Low-level languages are those where the program code interacts directly (or fairly directly), with the CPU, whereas high-level languages have a higher level of abstraction, leaving the compiler or interpreter to deal with issuing the appropriate commands to the CPU, and similar issues.  

The level of a language is a sliding scale, with some languages considered more high-level than others. Low-level langauges tend to require more steps to accomplish the same tasks than high-level languages.  [[Assembly Language]] is not '''a''' specific language, such as BASIC, but rather any of a group of languages that are each specific to a particular [[CPU]].

The level of a language is a sliding scale, with some languages considered more high-level than others. Low-level langauges tend to require more steps to accomplish the same tasks than high-level languages.  [[Assembly language]] is not '''a''' specific language, such as BASIC, but rather any of a group of languages that are each specific to a particular [[CPU]].

Most, if not all, high-level languages support the following features: sub-routines (functions and procedures), variables, flow-control, data types, I/O, arithmetic operations, string operations, dynamic allocation (heaps), arrays, structures, constants, and literals.  Unique features of some languages will find their way into other languages if the feature is generally useful, or will remain unique to the language otherwise.  An example of a feature that has not received widespread acceptance is '''sets'''.

Most, if not all, high-level languages support the following features: sub-routines (functions and procedures), variables, flow-control, data types, I/O, arithmetic operations, string operations, dynamic allocation (heaps), arrays, structures, constants, and literals.  Unique features of some languages will find their way into other languages if the feature is generally useful, or will remain unique to the language otherwise.  An example of a feature that has not received widespread acceptance is '''sets'''.