compiler
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Computer program that translates programs written in a high-level language into machine code (the form in which they can be run by the computer). The compiler translates each high-level instruction into several machine-code instructions – in a process called compilation – and produces a complete independent program that can be run by the computer as often as required, without the original source program being present.
Different compilers are needed for different high-level languages and for different computers. In contrast to using an interpreter, using a compiler adds slightly to the time needed to develop a new program because the machine-code program must be recompiled after each change or correction. Once compiled, however, the machine-code program will run much faster than an interpreted program.
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