Why C is called middle level language?

C is called middle-level language because it is actually bind the gap between a machine level language and high-level languages. User can use c language to do System Programming (for writing operating system) as well as Application Programming (for generate menu driven customer billing system ). That's why it is called middle level language.

High level - Ada , Modula-2 , Pascal, COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC

Middle level - Java, C++, C, FORTH, Macro-assemble

Low level - Assembler

Key points about the terminology used in this article

1. Low, high, blah-level is all just vague terminology with no deterministic factor behind it. Traditionally, low-level languages refer to machine code and assembly, and high-level refers to everything else. Now we are also using "very high level" term which is used for scripting languages (anything interpreted rather than compiled).

What do you think?

I hope, now you have better understanding of middle, high and low level languages. Comments and suggestions regrading this article are welcome.

Further Reading