What do we call a program that performs the compilation of an entire source code before it runs?

What do we call a program that performs the compilation of an entire source code before it runs?

• A. Assembler
• B. Interpreter
• C. Compiler
• D. Formatter

Answer: (C)

A program that compiles an entire source code before executing it is called a compiler. The primary function of a compiler is to translate high-level programming language code into machine code or bytecode, which can then be executed by the computer's processor. This process typically involves several steps, including lexical analysis, syntax analysis, semantic analysis, optimization, and code generation. Compilers read the entire source code at once and produce an output file that can be run independently of the original source code. This means that the entire program is checked for errors before any part of it executes, which can help find and fix issues early in the development process. In contrast, an interpreter translates code line by line and executes it immediately, which may lead to different behaviors during development and debugging. An assembler translates low-level assembly language into machine code but does not handle high-level languages. A formatter, on the other hand, is generally used to arrange code in a readable format, but it does not perform compilation or execution.

A program that compiles an entire source code before executing it is called a compiler. The primary function of a compiler is to translate high-level programming language code into machine code or bytecode, which can then be executed by the computer's processor. This process typically involves several steps, including lexical analysis, syntax analysis, semantic analysis, optimization, and code generation.

Compilers read the entire source code at once and produce an output file that can be run independently of the original source code. This means that the entire program is checked for errors before any part of it executes, which can help find and fix issues early in the development process.

In contrast, an interpreter translates code line by line and executes it immediately, which may lead to different behaviors during development and debugging. An assembler translates low-level assembly language into machine code but does not handle high-level languages. A formatter, on the other hand, is generally used to arrange code in a readable format, but it does not perform compilation or execution.