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This question is about what an interpreter does.
Compiler vs. Interpreter
A compiler scans an entire program and translates all of it into machine code at one time, while an interpreter translates just one statement of the program at a time into machine code.
A compiler converts high-level language or source code in one sitting into machine code to be understood by the computers. A high-level language can be understood by humans. It is the compiler's goal to make this language understood in binary code form by a computer or computers.
An interpreter provides the same function except it doesn't execute this all at once, but rather by going one statement of high-level language at a time.
Here are the key differences between a compiler and an interpreter:
| A compiler scans an entire program and translates all of it into machine code at once. | An interpreter translates just one statement of the program at a time into machine code. |
| A compiler takes a long time to evaluate the source code, however, the overall time taken to execute the process is faster. | An interpreter takes less time to evaluate the source code, however, the overall time to execute the process is slower. |
| A compiler always makes an intermediary object code, more memory is needed for this process. | An interpreter keeps translating the program until it is confronted with an error. |
| Compilers are used by programming languages like C and C++. | Interpreters are used by programming languages like Ruby and Python. |
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