Low-level programming languages

A low-level programming language provides little or no abstraction from a set of electronic instructions to the CPU -because of this, low-level languages are sometimes described as being "close to the hardware."

Low-level languages can be converted to machine code without using a compiler or interpreter resulting in code that runs directly on the processor. A program written in a low-level language can be made to run very fast, and has a very small 'memory footprint' compared to a high level couterpart - in other words it doesn't use up much memory space!

Low-level languages are simple in that they instruct 'step by step', but they are difficult to use, as you have to be very logical and remember numerous technical details - not missing out any tiny step.

Low-level programming languages are sometimes categorised as being:

first generation and
second generation.