- A compiler and an interpreter are two types of software programs used to translate high-level programming language code into executable machine code that a computer can understand.
- A compiler converts the entire source code of a program into machine code in a single process. The output of a compiler is usually a standalone executable file that can be run independently of the source code. This means that the program can be executed faster because the machine code is already generated, and there is no need for the compiler during runtime.
- On the other hand, an interpreter executes the program code line-by-line and translates each instruction into machine code as it is encountered. The output of an interpreter is not a standalone executable file but is generated on-the-fly during program execution. This means that the program can be easier to debug, as errors can be caught immediately, but can also be slower to execute because of the overhead involved in translating each instruction.
- The choice of using a compiler or an interpreter can significantly impact the development process and the performance of the resulting program. Compiled languages are generally faster and more efficient, while interpreted languages are more flexible and easier to debug. However, there are some languages that use both techniques, such as Java, which is compiled to bytecode and then interpreted by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). x
- Aimlay answered 2 years ago
- last edited 4 months ago
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