Interpreter

Definition

An interpreter is a program that executes instructions written in a programming language directly, without requiring them to have been compiled into a machine language program. In Python, the interpreter reads and executes the code line by line.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Python uses an interpreter to execute scripts.
2. The Python shell provides an interactive environment where the interpreter executes commands on-the-fly.
3. Interpreters can immediately execute code, making them useful for debugging and testing small code snippets.
4. Errors encountered in interpreted code are reported immediately when the problematic line is reached.
5. Interpreted languages typically run slower than compiled languages because each instruction is processed on-the-fly.

Review Questions

• What is the main purpose of an interpreter in Python?
• How does using an interpreter differ from using a compiler?
• Why might errors be easier to debug using an interpreted language?

Related terms

Compiler: A program that translates code from a high-level programming language to machine code before execution.

Python Shell: An interactive environment provided by Python where users can enter and execute individual lines of code.

Bytecode: Intermediate code generated by the Python compiler that is executed by the Python virtual machine.