How does an interpreter differ from a compiler?

The distinction between an interpreter and a compiler is primarily based on how they process a programming language. An interpreter checks for errors and executes the program line by line, which allows for immediate execution of code. This means that as each line is parsed, it is executed right away, providing instant feedback to the programmer.

This line-by-line execution facilitates debugging since errors can be identified and corrected one at a time as the program runs. It is particularly beneficial in development environments where rapid testing and iteration are necessary, making interpreters great for scripting languages or during the initial phases of program development.

Other approaches, such as compiling the entire program at once, are characteristic of compilers, which translate the whole source code into machine code before any execution takes place. This typically results in better performance during execution but does not provide the same immediate feedback on errors.

In a similar vein, while some interpreters might only translate certain parts of a program, it’s more typical of their function to process the entire program incrementally. Moreover, most interpreters do perform some error checking as they execute each line, contrary to the idea that they do not check for errors at all. Thus, the emphasis on error-checking and line-by-line execution identifies the unique role of interpre