Compiled language

Informally, a compiled language is a programming language that is usually implemented with a compiler rather than an interpreter. Because any language can theoretically be either compiled or interpreted, the term lacks clarity: compilation and interpretation are properties of a programming language implementation, not of a programming language. Some languages have both compilers and interpreters. ^[1] Furthermore, a single implementation can involve both a compiler and an interpreter. For example, in some environments, source code is first compiled to an intermediate form (e.g., bytecode), which is then interpreted by an application virtual machine. ^[2] In other environments, a just-in-time compiler selectively compiles some code at runtime, blurring the distinction further.

See also

• ANTLR  – Parser generator program
• Flex  – UNIX program for lexical analysisPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• GNU bison  – Yacc-compatible parser generator programPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Lex  – Lexical analyzer generator
• List of compiled languages
• Interpreter (computing)  – Software that executes encoded logic
• Scripting language  – Programming language designed for scripting
• Yacc  – Parser generator

References

1. Ullah, Asmat. "Features and Characteristics of Compiled Languages". www.sqa.org.uk.
2. "Byte Code in Java". GeeksforGeeks. 2021-10-16. Retrieved 2025-04-22.