What is the difference between a compiler and an interpreter? How do they relate to the C language?
What is the difference between a compiler and an interpreter? How do they relate to the C language?
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21-Apr-2023
Updated on 24-Apr-2023
Aryan Kumar
24-Apr-2023A compiler and an interpreter are two types of programs that translate source code into executable code, but they work in different ways.
A compiler is a program that translates the entire source code into machine code all at once, and creates an executable file that can be run directly by the operating system. The compiled code is platform-specific and can only run on the system for which it was compiled. In other words, a compiled program is not portable.
On the other hand, an interpreter is a program that translates source code into machine code one line at a time, and executes each line immediately. This means that an interpreter does not create an executable file, but instead, it executes the code directly from the source. Interpreted code is platform-independent and can run on any system with an interpreter for that particular language.
In the case of the C language, there are both compilers and interpreters available. A C compiler translates the entire C source code into machine code, which can be executed directly by the operating system. The most popular C compilers are GCC (GNU Compiler Collection), Clang, and Microsoft Visual C++. The compiled C code is generally faster than interpreted code, but it requires compilation for each platform it needs to run on.
A C interpreter, on the other hand, translates C code into machine code one line at a time and executes it immediately. There are some C interpreters available, such as Ch, but they are not widely used as the compiled code is generally faster.
In summary, a compiler translates the entire source code into machine code at once and creates an executable file, while an interpreter translates the source code one line at a time and executes it immediately. Both compilers and interpreters are available for the C language, but compiled C code is generally faster than interpreted C code.
Krishnapriya Rajeev
21-Apr-2023A compiler and an interpreter are two programs used to translate source code into machine code and are executed by a computer.
A compiler is a program that takes the entire source code of a program and translates it into machine code all at once. The compiled code can then be executed directly by the computer without the need for the original source code. C is a compiled language, which means that C programs are translated into machine code using a compiler. The compiled machine code can then be run on the computer.
An interpreter is a program that reads the source code of a program one line at a time and executes it immediately. The source code is not translated into machine code all at once but rather is interpreted and executed as it is read. Interpreted languages, such as Python, are executed using an interpreter.
In the context of C, a C program is typically compiled using a C compiler, which translates the source code into machine code that can be executed by the computer. The compiled program can then be run on the computer. However, it is also possible to use an interpreter to execute C code line by line, although this is not a common way to use the language.