"... run programs ...." can be considered at a number of (abstract) levels, until the lowermost level is reached , which is machine language. ( Actually, the

"... run programs ...." can be considered at a number of (abstract) levels, until the lowermost level is reached , which is machine language. ( Actually, the preceding statement is not correct , since there is often, [ but not all ways] CPU micro code , below Machine language. Machine language is assembly language translated into ones and zeros , that is loaded into the CPU. CPU microcode is a language used to control the internal CPU logic to execute the machine language.