Computer language: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Formal language for communicating with a computer}}

taxonomy

A '''computer language''' is a [[formal language]] for humans to [[communication|communicate]] with a [[computer]]; not a [[natural language]]. In earlier days of [[computing]] (before the 1980s), the term was used interchangeably with [[programming language]], but today, used primarily for [[taxonomy]], is a broader term that encompasses languages that are not programming in nature. Sub-categories (with possibly contended hierarchical relationships) include:

* [[Softwaresoftware construction#Construction languages|Construction language]] – for [[software construction]]

** [[Programming language|Programming]] – for controlling computer behavior

** [[Data_exchange#Data_exchange_languages|Data exchange language]] – ___domain-independent language for data exchange; examples: [[JSON]], [[XML]]

*** [[Command language|Command]] – for controlling the tasks of a computer, such as starting programs

** [[Configuration file#Configuration languages|Configuration language]] – for writing [[configuration files]]

*** [[ProgrammingQuery language|Query]] – for communicating[[Information instructionsretrieval|querying]] to[[databases]] aand machine,[[information particularly a computersystems]]

*** [[CommandTransformation language|Transformation]] – for controllingtransforming the taskstext of a computer,formal suchlanguage asinto text that meets a startingspecific programsgoal

** Structural

*** [[Query language]] – for making [[Information retrieval|queries]] in [[databases]] and [[information systems]]

*** [[Configuration file#Configuration languages|Configuration language]] – for writing [[configuration files]]

*** [[Transformation language]] – for transforming the text of a formal language into text that meets a specific goal

*** [[Data_exchange#Data_exchange_languages|Data exchange language]] – ___domain-independent language for data exchange; examples: [[JSON]], [[XML]]

** [[Markup language]] – for annotating a document in a way that is syntactically distinguishable from the text, such as [[HTML]]

*** [[Page descriptionMarkup language|Markup]] – for describingannotating thea appearancedocument ofin a printedway pagethat inis asyntactically higherdistinguishable levelfrom thanthe antext, actualsuch outputas [[bitmapHTML]]

*** [[StylePage sheetdescription language|Page description]] – for expressingdescribing the presentationappearance of structureda printed page in a higher level than documents,an suchactual asoutput [[CSSbitmap]]

*** [[ModelingStyle sheet language|Style sheet]] – for expressing informationthe orpresentation knowledge,of oftenstructured fordocuments, usesuch inas computer system design[[CSS]]

** [[Architecture descriptionModeling language|Modeling]] – for describing and representing systemdesigning architecturessystems

** [[HardwareArchitecture description language|Architecture description]] – for modelingdescribing [[integratedand circuits]]representing system architecture

** [[SimulationHardware description language|Hardware description]] – for describingmodeling [[simulationsintegrated circuit]]s

* [[SpecificationSimulation language|Simulation]] – for describing what a system should do[[simulation|simulating]]

* [[Specification language|Specification]] – for describing what a system should do

==See also==