assembly language

language (Or "assembly code") A symbolic representation of

the machine language of a specific processor. Assembly

language is converted to machine code by an assembler.

Usually, each line of assembly code produces one machine

instruction, though the use of macros is common.

Programming in assembly language is slow and error-prone but

is the only way to squeeze every last bit of performance out

of the hardware.

Filename extension: .s (Unix), .asm (CP/M and others).

See also second generation language.

(1996-09-17)