Question

Imagine you have a friend who is new to computing. He is not necessarily interested in going into programming, but he would like to know the basics in terms of how computers work, how programs are written, and how computers communicate with each other. You are talking to him about the basics, but he keeps confusing operating systems, programming language, computer language, and markup language. How would you use very plain language to explain to him the differences between these things and how they interact with each other?

Answer 1

Operating systems manage computer resources, programming languages write instructions, computer languages are low-level and difficult for humans, and markup languages structure web information.

Step-by-step explanation:

Operating Systems:

An operating system is software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. Examples of operating systems include Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Programming Languages:

Programming languages are used to write instructions for computers to execute. Examples of programming languages include Python, Java, and C++. Each programming language has its syntax and rules.

Computer Languages:

Computer languages refer to low-level languages used by computers to understand and execute instructions. These languages include binary code (1s and 0s) and assembly language. They are difficult for humans to understand and write.

Markup Languages:

Markup languages are used to structure and present information on the web. HTML and XML are examples of markup languages that define the structure and formatting of web pages.