Difference between compiler and interpreter

• A compiler converts the high level instruction into machine language while an interpreter converts the high level instruction into an intermediate form.
• Before execution, entire program is executed by the compiler whereas after translating the first line, an interpreter then executes it and so on.
• List of errors is created by the compiler after the compilation process while an interpreter stops translating after the first error.
• An independent executable file is created by the compiler whereas interpreter is required by an interpreted program each time.
• The compiler produce object code whereas interpreter does not produce object code.
• In the process of compilation the program is analyzed only once and then the code is generated whereas source program is interpreted every time it is to be executed and every time the source program is analyzed. hence interpreter is less efficient than compiler.
• Examples of interpreter: A UPS Debugger is basically a graphical source level debugger but it contains built in C interpreter which can handle multiple source files. example of compiler: Borland c compiler or Turbo C compiler compiles the programs written in C or C++.