Interpreter vs Compiler: Difference Between Compiler and Interpreter

To make programming code understandable and executable by a computer, it needs to be translated into machine language (binary system) using a compiler or interpreter, so that computers can process it.

What is a compiler ?

A compiler is a software tool that translates the entire source code at once into machine language, which the hardware can execute directly, like an .exe file.
If there are errors in the code, the code will not compile, and no output will be provided. Instead, we will encounter a "Compile error."

Compiler languages include:

• C
• C++
• Java
• Swift

What is a Interpreter ?

An interpreter is a software tool that translates and executes source code line by line into machine language, without producing an output file.

Compiler languages include:

• JavaScript
• PHP
• Python

Interpreter vs Compiler:

• In a compiler, all code is converted to machine language at once, while in an interpreter, code is translated line by line during program execution.

• After translation, a compiler produces an output file, such as an .exe, which is in binary format. In contrast, an interpreter does not create any output file; it executes the code line by line.

• If there is an error in the code, the compiler encounters a compile error, preventing the output file from being created and the program from running. However, an interpreter will run the program until it hits an error, at which point it stops.

• The execution speed of code in a compiler is generally higher because the output has already been generated. In contrast, an interpreter takes more time since it translates the code each time it runs.

• Debugging is easier in an interpreter because it translates code line by line and stops execution when an error occurs, making bug tracing simpler. In a compiler, since all code is compiled at once, this can be more challenging.

• Interpreters are not dependent on the operating system, while compilers are. This means that code written for an interpreter can run on any operating system, as it is translated each time. However, the output produced by a compiler can only run on the operating system it was compiled on.