4.2 · Lesson 3 of 4
Compilers and interpreters
Syllabus 4.2.3Syllabus 4.2.4
What this lesson covers
- Describe how compilers and interpreters work and report errors
- Compare compilers and interpreters
Key vocabulary
- Translator
- A program that converts code into machine code.
- Compiler
- Translates the whole high-level program at once, producing an executable file and an error report for the whole program.
- Interpreter
- Translates and executes a high-level program line by line, stopping at the first error.
- Executable file
- The translated machine code program (object code) that can be run again and again.
- Error report
- A list of all the errors in a program, given by a compiler.
Check your learning
- Quick check: 4 questions
- Key vocabulary test: 5 terms
- Activity 1: Compiler, interpreter or assembler? · drag and drop
- Activity 2: Errors and scenarios · 8 questions
- Activity 3: Translators quiz · 8 questions