What is the Difference Between Compiled and Interpreted Programming Languages?

Compiled and interpreted programming languages differ primarily in the way they are processed and executed by a computer system.

Compiled Programming Languages:

A compiled programming language is one in which the code is translated into machine code before execution. This process is carried out by a compiler, which turns the entire source code into an executable file that can be run independently of the original source code. Examples of compiled languages include C, C++, and Java.

Interpreted Programming Languages:

An interpreted programming language, on the other hand, is not compiled into machine code before execution. Instead, the code is read and executed line by line by an interpreter at runtime. This allows for greater flexibility and easier debugging, but can result in slower performance. Examples of interpreted languages include Python, JavaScript, and PHP.

In summary, the key difference between compiled and interpreted programming languages lies in how the code is processed and executed by the computer system, with compiled languages being translated into machine code before execution and interpreted languages being executed line by line by an interpreter.