Advantages of high-level languages

High-level languages (HLL) are useful in developing complex software, as they support
complex data structures. It increases the programmer’s productivity (the number of lines of code
generated per hour). Unlike assembly language, the programmer does not need to learn the
instructions set of each computer being worked with. The various advantages of using high-level
languages are discussed below:
a) Readability:
Since high-level languages are closer to natural languages, they are easier to learn and
understand. In addition, a programmer does not need to be aware of computer architecture; even
a common man can use it without much difficulty. This is the main reason of HLL’s popularity.
b) Machine Independent:
High-level language are machine independent in the sense that a program created using HLL
can be used on different platforms with very little or no change at all.
c) Easy Debugging:
High-level languages include the support for ideas of abstraction so that programmers can
concentrate on finding the solution to the problem rapidly, rather than on low-level details of
data representation, which results in fewer errors. Moreover, the compilers and interpreters are
designed in such a way that they detect and point out the errors instantaneously.
d) Easier to Maintain:
As compared to low-level languages, the programs written in HLL are easy to modify and
maintain because HLL programs are easier to understand.
e) Low Development Cost:
High-level languages permit faster development of programs. Although a high-level
program may not be as efficient as an equivalent low-level program, but the savings in
programmer’s time generally outweighs the inefficiencies of the application. This is because the
cost of writing a program is nearly constant for each line of code, regardless of the language.
Thus, a high-level language, where each line of code translates to 10 machine instructions, costs
only a fraction as compared to program developed in a low-level language.
f) Easy Documentation: 
Since the statements written in HLL are similar to natural languages they are easier to understand as compared to low-level languages.

Disadvantages of high-level languages:

The main disadvantages of this language are:
a) Poor Control on Hardware:
High-level languages are developed to ease the pressure on programmers so that they do not
have to know the intricacies of hardware. As a result, sometimes the applications written in
high-level languages cannot completely harness the total power available at hardware level.
b) Less Efficient:
The HLL applications are less efficient as far as computation time is concerned. This is
because, unlike low-level languages, high-level languages must be created and sent through
another processing program known as a complier. This process of translation increases the
execution time of an application. Programs written in high-level languages take more time to
execute, an require more memory space. Hence, critical applications are generally written in
low-level languages.