How interpreted language works?

Table of Contents

• Introduction to interpreted language
• Key Features of an Interpreted Language:
• Interpreter vs. Compiler:
• Advantages of Interpreted Languages:
• Disadvantages of Interpreted Languages:
• Conclusion of interpreted language:

Introduction to interpreted language

An interpreted language is a type of programming language in which most of the instructions are executed directly, line by line, by an interpreter at runtime, rather than being compiled into machine code beforehand (like in compiled languages).

Key Features of an Interpreted Language:

1. No Compilation Step:
   • In interpreted languages, there is no separate, intermediate compilation step to convert the entire source code into machine code. Instead, the source code is executed line by line or statement by statement.
2. Execution at Runtime:
   • The interpreter reads and executes the source code during the program’s runtime, meaning that the program is executed as it is being parsed and processed.
3. Platform Independence:
   • Since the source code is interpreted on the fly, it is often platform-independent. The interpreter itself needs to be installed on the machine where the program runs, and it handles translating the code into machine-specific instructions.
4. Slower Execution:
   • Interpreted languages tend to run slower than compiled languages because each line of code is translated into machine code on the fly, rather than having a precompiled binary to execute.

Examples of Interpreted Languages:

• Python: The Python interpreter reads the Python code and executes it directly.
• JavaScript: JavaScript code is interpreted by the browser’s JavaScript engine at runtime.
• Ruby: Ruby code is executed by the Ruby interpreter.
• PHP: PHP scripts are executed by the PHP interpreter on the server.

Interpreter vs. Compiler:

• Interpreter: Translates the code into machine-readable instructions line-by-line during execution. Errors are typically detected at runtime.
• Compiler: Translates the entire program into machine code or bytecode ahead of time. The compiled code is executed later, typically resulting in faster execution but requiring a separate compilation step.

Example:

In Python (an interpreted language), the code is executed directly by the Python interpreter:

# Python Code
print("Hello, World!")

1. The Python interpreter reads the source code and executes it line by line.
2. There is no need to compile the entire program before running it; it can be executed immediately.

Advantages of Interpreted Languages:

1. Ease of Debugging: Since the code is executed line by line, it’s easier to debug because you can immediately test changes and see results.
2. Portability: As long as the interpreter is available for the target machine, the same source code can run across different platforms.
3. Dynamic Typing: Interpreted languages often support dynamic typing and other features that make development faster.

Disadvantages of Interpreted Languages:

1. Slower Execution: Because the interpreter must parse and execute the code at runtime, interpreted languages tend to be slower than compiled languages.
2. Requires an Interpreter: The target system must have the appropriate interpreter installed, adding an extra dependency.

Conclusion of interpreted language:

An interpreted language is a type of programming language that is executed directly by an interpreter at runtime. This contrasts with compiled languages, where the code is translated into machine code beforehand. Interpreted languages are typically easier to debug, more portable, but often run slower due to the lack of a pre-compilation step.