GATE CSE IT » Difference Between Compiler and Interpreter

Difference Between Compiler and Interpreter

Read this blog to know the difference between compiler and interpreter, its benefits, and drawbacks.

Table of Contents

  1. What exactly are compilers?
  2. What exactly are Interpreters?
  3. What makes a compiler different from an interpreter?
  4. Key differences between Compiler and Interpreter
  5. The benefits and drawbacks of Compiler and Interpreter
  6. Java Compiler and Interpreter

Life would have been difficult if we had travelled to a distant country where it would be difficult to converse in the native tongue. Without a translator, it would not be easy to anticipate receiving something in return when asked. Even if we don’t visit foreign countries frequently, we frequently communicate with machines unable to understand human language.

What exactly are compilers?

A compiler is a software application that follows the grammar rules of programming languages to translate source code into machine code. It cannot correct any faults present in a programme; instead, it will provide an error notice in the program’s syntax for you to fix. If your programme is sound, the compiler will convert all your source code into machine code (free of errors). The entire source code is quickly converted into machine code by a compiler. Your programme is finally put into use.

What exactly are Interpreters?

An interpreter is computer software that converts programme statements into machine code. Scripts, already-compiled code, and source code all include programme statements. A compiler could never comprehend a programme as rapidly as an interpreter. For beginners, interpreters are especially useful since they make working with source code simpler.

What makes a compiler different from an interpreter?

A compiler transforms high-level language (source code) into machine language (object language). In contrast, an interpreter is computer software that runs code written in a high-level language (source code).

Generally speaking, computer programmes are written in high-level, easily understood languages. A computer cannot comprehend source code or high-level language until it has been converted into machine language using a compiler or interpreter.

Compilers and interpreters are essential tools required to translate programmes written in high-level languages into machine code that a computer can comprehend. But there are some distinctions between a compiler and an interpreter, and they work quite differently. We will examine what compilers and interpreters are in this post and the distinctions between the two.

Key differences between Compiler and Interpreter

Compiler

  • The compiler displays all issues after compilation.
  • The compiler is based on the translation linking-loading paradigm
  • The compiler requires the entire programme
  • A compiler transforms high-level programming language code into machine code before a program’s execution.

 

  • Computed code runs faster

Interpreter

  • the interpreter displays issues for specific lines.
  •  The Interpreter is based on the Interpretation Method.
  • The interpreter only needs one line of code.
  • In contrast, an interpreter transforms each high-level programme statement into machine code separately.
  •  interpreted code runs slower than computed.

The benefits and drawbacks of Compiler and Interpreter

Compilers lower the time required to run the code since the programme codes are already transformed into machine code. Using a compiler has the drawback that no software alterations can be performed without returning to the source code.

Using interpreters makes working with the source code much easier. Therefore, they are perfect, especially for beginners. Conversely, interpreted apps can only be run on computers with proper interpreters.

Java Compiler and Interpreter

A compiled programming language for computers is called Java. Before being immediately compiled into the executable machine code, it is first transformed into a binary intermediate format called JVM bytecode. The bytecode must be further compiled or interpreted for the programme to run. Since Java is both an interpreter and a compiled programming language, it is frequently referred to as the compiler interpreter language. This also makes it clear that Java uses both a compiler and an interpreter.