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A translator is a program that converts code written in one programming language to another. There are three main types of translators: compilers, which convert high-level languages like C and Java to machine code; interpreters, which directly execute code without generating machine code; and assemblers, which convert assembly language to machine code. Translators allow code to be written in easier to understand high-level languages and then converted for efficient execution on computer hardware.

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24 views4 pages

Untitled Document-22

A translator is a program that converts code written in one programming language to another. There are three main types of translators: compilers, which convert high-level languages like C and Java to machine code; interpreters, which directly execute code without generating machine code; and assemblers, which convert assembly language to machine code. Translators allow code to be written in easier to understand high-level languages and then converted for efficient execution on computer hardware.

Uploaded by

Kartik sharma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A translator is a programming language processor that modifies a computer

program from one language to another. It takes a program written in the


source program and modifies it into a machine program. It can find and
detect the error during translation.

Translators are a fundamental part of the compilation process and are


categorized into three main types:

​ Compiler − A compiler is a program that translates a high-level


language (for example, C, C++, and Java) into a low-level language
(object program or machine program). The compiler converts
high-level language into the low-level language using various phases.
A character stream inputted by the customer goes through multiple
stages of compilation which at last will provide target language.
​ Interpreter: An interpreter is a translator that processes the source
code line by line or statement by statement and executes it directly
without generating an intermediate or low-level representation.
Interpreters are used for languages like Python, JavaScript, and Ruby.
They read, parse, and execute code in real-time, making them slower
than compiled languages but often more accessible for debugging and
portability.
​ Assembler: An assembler is a translator that converts assembly
language code into machine code. Assembly language is a low-level
symbolic representation of the machine code instructions specific to a
particular computer architecture. Assemblers translate human-readable
assembly code into binary machine code that can be executed by the
computer's central processing unit (CPU).
​

Translators, specifically in the context of compiler design and programming


languages, are essential for several reasons:

1. High-level Language to Machine Code Conversion: Translators,


such as compilers, are necessary for converting high-level
programming languages (which are more human-readable and
abstract) into machine code or lower-level code that a computer's
hardware can directly execute. This conversion allows developers to
write software in languages that are easier to understand and work
with, while still enabling efficient execution on the target hardware.
2. Portability: Translators help achieve portability, which means that
software written in a high-level language can be compiled and run on
different computer architectures without modification. Instead of
rewriting the entire program for each target platform, developers can
use the same source code and rely on compilers or interpreters to
generate the appropriate machine code for the specific architecture.
3. Optimization: Compilers often perform various levels of optimization
to improve the efficiency and performance of the generated code.
These optimizations can result in faster execution and reduced memory
usage. Translators analyze the code and apply optimizations based on
the specific characteristics of the target platform.
4. Error Detection: Translators can detect and report syntax and
semantic errors in the source code during the compilation or
interpretation process. This helps developers find and fix issues early in
the development cycle, reducing the likelihood of runtime errors.
5. Abstraction: High-level programming languages provide abstractions
that make it easier to express complex ideas and algorithms.
Translators bridge the gap between these high-level abstractions and
the lower-level details of hardware, allowing developers to focus on
solving problems without needing to understand the intricacies of the
underlying hardware.
6. Security: Some security features can be enforced by translators. For
example, they can perform checks to prevent buffer overflows or other
security vulnerabilities, enhancing the security of the compiled code.
7. Code Reusability: Translators enable code reusability. Developers can
write libraries, frameworks, and modules in high-level languages and
reuse them in multiple projects or share them with the software
development community.
8. Maintenance: Translators aid in code maintenance. Developers can
make changes or updates to the source code in a high-level language,
and the translator will generate the corresponding machine code or
intermediate code, making it easier to maintain and update software
over time.
9. Debugging and Testing: Interpreters, in particular, provide a way to
run and test code interactively, making it easier to debug and test
software. Errors and issues can be detected and fixed more rapidly in
an interpreted environment.

The Structure of a Compiler

The process of compilation is so complex to be achieved in one single step,


either from a logical point of view or from an implementation point of view.
For this reason it is partition into a series of subprocesses called Phases. The
typical compiler consists of several phases each of which passes its output to
the next phase plus symbol table manager and an error handler as shown
below:
Compiler construction tools

Compiler Construction Tools - Coding Ninjas

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