2.4 - Types of Programming language

Question 1

What are imperative programming paradigms?

Answer 1

• approach to using a programming language to solve a problem that uses code that clearly specifies the actions to be performed

Question 2

What is procedural programming?

Answer 2

• widely used paradigms as it can be applied to a range of problems
• easy to write and interpret
• written as a sequence of instructions
• instructions carried out step by step

Question 3

What is object-oriented programming?

Answer 3

• suited to problems which can be broken down into reusable components with similar characteristics
• based on objects formed from classes which have attributes and methods
• focuses on making programs that are reusable and easy to update and maintain

Question 4

What is declarative programming?

Answer 4

• states the desired result and the programming language determines how best to obtain the result
• details about how result is obtained are abstracted from the user

Question 5

What is functional programming?

Answer 5

• functions form the core of the program
• function calls are often combined within each other
• closely linked to mathematics

Question 6

What is logic programming?

Answer 6

• a set of facts and rules based on the problem is defined
• queries are used to find answers to problems

Question 7

Strengths of Procedural programming?

Answer 7

• efficient execution of straightforward tasks
• clear flow of control (top to bottom)
• ease of implementation for algorithms
• strong emphasis on step-by-step procedure execution

Question 8

Weaknesses of procedural programming?

Answer 8

• can become unwieldy for large programs
• lack of modularity can lead to code redundancy
• not ideal for applications with complex states or behaviours
• difficulty in managing and scaling the system as it grows

Question 9

Strengths of Object-Oriented programming?

Answer 9

• enhances modularity with encapsulation
• enables real-world modelling using objects
• code reuse through inheritance
• polymorphism allows flexibility in interface design

Question 10

Weaknesses of Object-Oriented Programming?

Answer 10

• can lead to unnecessary complexity
• inefficiency due to overhead (e.g. memory for objects)
• not always intuitive for all types of problems
• misuse can lead to overly complex inheritance heirarchies

Question 11

Strengths of assembly programming?

Answer 11

• direct control over hardware
• optimised performance due to low-level operations
• tranparent understanding of how machine operates
• potential for very efficient code

Question 12

Weaknesses of Assembly programming?

Answer 12

• Extremely steep learning curve
• Hardware specific, leading to lack of portability
• Tedious and error-prone, due to memory management
• difficult to write, debug, and maintain large programs