Generations of computer Programming Languages

There are basically five types of computer programming languages based on generation, they are –

- First Generation Language - A first-generation programming language (1GL) is a machine-level programming language. It is a grouping of programming languages that are machine level languages used to program first-generation computers.

- Second Generation Language - Second generation languages, or 2GL, are low-level assembly languages that are specific to a particular computer and processor.

- Third Generation Language - A third-generation programming language (3GL) is a high-level computer programming language that tends to be more machine-independent and programmer-friendly than the machine code of the first-generation and assembly languages of the second-generation, while having a less specific focus to the fourth and fifth generations.
For example - ALGOL, BASIC, C, COBOL, Fortran and Pascal.

- Fourth Generation Language - Fourth-generation language (4GL), are closer to human language than other high-level languages and are accessible to people without formal training as programmers. They allow multiple common operations to be performed with a single programmer-entered command.
For example – Python, Ruby, Perl etc.

- Fifth Generation Language - Fifth-generation languages are used mainly in artificial intelligence & research. OPS5 and Mercury are examples of fifth-generation languages, all are built upon Lisp.