- A Compilation time
- B Execution time
- C Both A and B
- D Neither A nor B
The primary difference between a compiler and an interpreter lies in when they perform their tasks. A compiler translates the entire source code into machine code during compilation time, while an interpreter translates and executes the source code line by line during execution time.
A characteristic of a compiler is that it often produces an intermediate code or machine code as an output. This code is then executed directly by the computer's hardware.
Lexical Analysis is a common phase to both compilers and interpreters. It involves the analysis of the source code to identify and tokenize the lexical elements.
Java is an example of a programming language that often uses interpreters. Java source code is compiled into an intermediate bytecode, which is then interpreted by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) during execution.
Compilers typically detect syntax errors during the compilation process. Syntax errors involve violations of the language's grammar rules.
In the execution phase, an interpreter directly executes the source code line by line, translating and running each statement in real-time.
Assembly languages often use compilers to translate the human-readable assembly code into machine code that can be executed by the computer's hardware.
Compilation time and execution time are independent factors, and there is no fixed relationship between the two. The duration of compilation and execution depends on various factors, including the complexity of the code and the efficiency of the compiler or interpreter.
An advantage of using an interpreter is early error detection. Interpreters often detect errors as they interpret the code line by line, providing immediate feedback.
The linker in the compilation process combines compiled object code generated by the compiler into an executable file. It resolves references and produces the final executable that can be run.