Compiler: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ป
compiler
[kษmหpaษชlษr ]
Definition
software development
A compiler is a program that translates source code written in a high-level programming language into machine code that can be executed by a computer.
Synonyms
converter, interpreter, translator.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| compiler |
Use when referring to a program that translates code from a high-level programming language to a lower-level language, usually machine code, in a single run.
|
| translator |
Use when referring to a person or software that translates text from one language to another. In programming, it can also mean software that translates code from one programming language to another.
|
| interpreter |
Use when referring to a program that directly executes instructions written in a programming or scripting language without requiring them to be compiled into machine code first.
|
| converter |
Use when talking about a tool that changes data from one format to another without particularly being tied to programming languages.
|
Examples of usage
- The compiler took the Python code and generated executable machine code.
- After running the compiler, the C++ program was ready to be executed.
- The Java compiler checks for syntax errors before producing the bytecode.
- The compiler optimizes the code for better performance during execution.
- The compiler translates the code line by line into machine instructions.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The word 'compiler' comes from the Latin 'compilare', which means 'to plunder or gather together'.
- Originally coined in the 1950s, it referred to tools that gather and translate programming languages.
- The suffix '-er' indicates a doer, meaning a compiler does the action of compiling.
Historical Development
- Fortran, developed in the 1950s, was one of the first high-level programming languages to be compiled.
- The creation of the first compiler, developed by Grace Hopper, laid the groundwork for modern programming.
- Compilers have evolved significantly with advancements in technology, from simple translators to complex systems optimizing code for performance.
Technology
- Modern compilers can optimize code for speed and size, affecting how software runs on devices.
- They often include features like error checking and debugging tools to help programmers fix issues.
- Compilers can target multiple processor architectures, allowing software to run efficiently on different hardware.
Education
- Studying compilers in computer science introduces students to important programming concepts like syntax and semantics.
- Understanding how compilers work can help programmers write better, more efficient code.
- Courses on compiler construction often blend theory with hands-on programming assignments, reinforcing learning.
Pop Culture
- In movies and TV shows about hackers and programmers, compilers are often referenced, sometimes incorrectly, adding to the mystique of coding.
- The term 'compiler' has found its way into comic books and video games, appearing as characters or tools in storylines related to technology.
- Online communities often joke about compilers, likening their sometimes long-running processes to ancient rituals.
Translations
Translations of the word "compiler" in other languages:
๐ต๐น compilador
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคฎเฅเคชเคพเคเคฒเคฐ
๐ฉ๐ช Compiler
๐ฎ๐ฉ kompiler
๐บ๐ฆ ะบะพะผะฟัะปััะพั
๐ต๐ฑ kompilator
๐ฏ๐ต ใณใณใใคใฉ (konpaira)
๐ซ๐ท compilateur
๐ช๐ธ compilador
๐น๐ท derleyici
๐ฐ๐ท ์ปดํ์ผ๋ฌ (keompailleo)
๐ธ๐ฆ ู ุชุฑุฌู
๐จ๐ฟ kompilรกtor
๐ธ๐ฐ kompilรกtor
๐จ๐ณ ็ผ่ฏๅจ (biฤnyรฌ qรฌ)
๐ธ๐ฎ prevajalnik
๐ฎ๐ธ รพรฝรฐandi
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะบะพะผะฟะธะปััะพั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแแแแแขแแ แ (kompilatori)
๐ฆ๐ฟ kompilyator
๐ฒ๐ฝ compilador
Word Frequency Rank
Ranked #11,283, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.
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