When it comes to programming languages, they can fall into two categories - interpreted or compiled language.
This article will attempt the explain in very simple terms interpreted and compiled languages, talk about their advantages and disadvantages and give some examples of them.
Table of contents
1.
What is an interpreted programming Language?
2.
Advantages of an interpreted programming language
3.
Disadvantages of an interpreted programming language
4.
Examples Of Interpreted Programming languages.
5.
What is a Compiled Programming Language?
6.
Advantages of a compiled programming language
7.
Disadvantages of a compiled programming language
8.
Examples of compiled programming languages.
9.
Differences between interpreted and compiled programming languages.
What is an interpreted programming Language?
An interpreted programming language as the name implies, is a language that is interpreted at
Runtime .
In an interpreted programming language , the local machine (CPU) does not not directly execute the instructions. But they are executed by another program called the
Interpreter which is written in a language that the local machine can understand.
Take for example, if I do this logic in an interpreted programming language:
2+2
The interpreter can understand the plus sign "+", so at runtime will just add the two numbers with it's own add function " add(2,2)".
Advantages of an interpreted programming language
- Very easy to implement.
- Faster execution as there is no need to run a compilation stage.
- More Dynamic
- Platform Independent code.
- Smaller executable file size.
Disadvantages of an interpreted programming language
- Mid - level programming is minimal.
- More Vulnerable to Unauthorized code injection.
- Source code can be easily read and copied.
- Platform Independent code.
- Smaller executable file size.
Examples Of Interpreted Programming languages.
The following are some interpreted languages:
- APL
- BASIC
- PYTHON
- JavaScript
- PHP
- Ruby
- VB script
What is a Compiled Programming Language?
Unlike an interpreted language, a compiled language is one where the program is converted to machine code after during compilation.
The Compiler does not execute any code during compilation, rather it converts every part of the code to the language that the local machine can understand.
Take for example, if I do this logic in a Compiled programming language:
2+2
The compiler here will not add the two numbers unlike in our previous example with the interpreted language. It will rather translate the code into the ADD instruction of the local machine.
After compilation, the code is now sent to the local machine for execution.
Advantages of a compiled programming language
- closer to machine code
- Mid - level programming is maximal.
- Unauthorized code injection is minimal
- Source code cannot be is not easily accessible and copied.
- Smaller executable file size.
Disadvantages of a compiled programming language
- Platform Dependent.
- Additional time needed for compilation.
- Writing a compiler is a whole lot of work
Examples of compiled programming languages.
The following are some examples of compiled programming languages:
- C
- C++
- C#
- Fortran
- Cobra
- COBOL
- Pascal
Differences between interpreted and compiled programming languages
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Compiled programming Languages.
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Interpreted programming languages.
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Platform dependent.
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Platform Independent.
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Compiled before execution.
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Executed at runtime.
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Gives user Maximum control ( Mid -level programming ).
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Gives user Minimum Control.
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Not human readable after compilation.
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Human readable after interpretation.
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Harder to debug.
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Easier to debug.
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Programs written in compiled languages run faster.
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Run slower.
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Debugging is more difficult.
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Debugging is much easier.
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All right guys that's it for today. I remain Isaiah Ozadhe and every week I write on coding in very very simple terms
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