Difference Between Assembly Language and High-Level Language

By Aina Parasher|Updated : September 30th, 2022

The difference between assembly language and high-level language is that the accuracy and performance of an assembly language are better than that of a high-level language. Everything about the two languages is different, from the writing styles to the functionalities.

Difference Between Assembly Language and High-Level Language PDF

Both of these are categories of computer languages, however, there is a significant difference between assembly language and high-level language. Here we have discussed the difference between assembly language and high-level language along with a brief introduction to the two languages.

Difference between assembly language and high-level language

Difference Between Assembly Language and High-Level Language

The difference between assembly language and high-level language is that assembly language is more efficient than high-level language. Let us check the difference between assembly language and high-level language based on various parameters.

Assembly Language vs High-Level Language

Assembly Language

High-Level Language

For the conversion process, an assembler is needed for the assembly language. 

An interpreter or compiler is necessary for the conversion process of a high-level language.

It is machine-dependent.

It is machine-independent.

This makes accessing hardware components simple.

It makes challenging to access hardware components like this.

This has a more compact code.

There is no compact code in a high-level language.

It is more accurate.

It is less accurate.

The length of code is short in assembly language.

The length of code is larger in a high-level language.

What is an Assembly Language?

A low-level computer language called assembly language enables users to create a variety of programs by using alphanumeric codes rather than numeric codes to represent a set of instructions. A notable example of a modern, extensive assembly language is IBM PC DOS.

Every type of CPU requires a separate assembly language coding scheme. For the same tasks, X86 and x64 processors use different assembly language codes. The commands in assembly language are the same as those in machine language, but names are used in place of 0 and 1.

Examples of assembly languages are given below.

  • ARM
  • MIPS
  • x86
  • Z80
  • 68000
  • 6502
  • 6510

What is a High-Level language?

A high-level language is a machine-independent language. A high-level language is one that is user-friendly, uses variables and functions, and is not dependent on the architecture of the computer. The programmer doesn't bother about the hardware integration component when writing general-purpose code. A high-level language programme needs to be translated into machine code before being processed by a computer.

Examples of high-level language are given below.

  • C
  • Fortran
  • Basic
  • Algol
  • Ada
  • C++
  • C#
  • PHP
  • Perl
  • Python
  • Javascript
  • Pharo

Key Difference Between Assembly Language and High-Level Language

The key difference between assembly language and high-level language is given below.

  • Programs written in assembly language won't work on processors of a different type. Programs operate independently of processor type in high-level languages.
  • The performance of assembly language is more accurate than in high-level language.
  • High-level languages require additional instructions in order to execute code on a computer.
  • Several assembly language codes are generated from one or two high-level language statements.
  • Unlike high-level languages, assembly language allows us to read pointers at a physical address directly.
  • Assembly language is more efficient than high-level language.
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FAQs on Difference Between Assembly Language and High-Level Language

  • The difference between assembly language and high-level language is that a compiler is used to create high-level code, whereas an assembler is used to transform code into assembly language.

  • Assembly language is considered a low-level language because of the close resemblance between what Assembly instructs the computer to do and what the computer really does.

  • Assembly language is a low-level language, users can create programs that employ alphanumeric mnemonic codes rather than numeric codes to represent a set of instructions. IBM PC DOS is an example of an assembly language software from this era.

  • A high-level language is a human-friendly language that uses variables and functions and it is independent of computer architecture. The programmer writes code with a general purpose without worrying about the hardware integration part

  • Based on the accuracy, the difference between assembly language and high-level language is that assembly language is more accurate than high-level language.

  • Based on the compactness in code, the difference between assembly language and high-level language is that assembly language is more compact code than high-level language.

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