A compiler decodes complex high-level source code and translates them into simple machine-readable language.
Computers are designed in a specific manner that only executes functions written in machine language. Computer machine language is made by combining binary bits of 0s and 1s.
Advanced programming languages like C, C++, and Java are used to develop software. However, the source code in these programming languages does not fit the computer machine language.
Hence compilers are used to translate and interpret high-level code into understandable machine code.
The translation or conversion process from a high-level code to a low-level machine code undergoes six phases. These phases are collectively known as phases of a compiler. An online Java compiler compiles, debugs, and runs Java code online.
Thus Java applications need to be compiled. Likewise, you have to compile Java Applet too.
In this blog post, you will learn about all six phases of an online compiler: lexical analysis, syntax analysis, semantic analysis, intermediate code generation, code optimizer, and code generation. The blog focuses on the different functions conducted in these phases explicitly.
Learn the nits and grits of the phases of compiling and expand your knowledge boundaries.
Overview of Online Compilers
An online compiler is an advanced software tool or computer program known for its versatility. However, the primary function of an online compiler is to decode high-level source code written in different programming languages into simple machine-readable language, making it easy for computers to execute the instructions. For example: Java Compiler
An online Java compiler works in the same way. It decodes high-level Java source code into the targeted machine code. It breaks the source code into bytecode and converts it into readable code.
An online Java compiler is a versatile tool. Apart from decoding source code, it conducts a series of functions like optimization, bug detection, error detection, and code performance improvement.
Types of Compiler
While you learn about an online Java compiler, it is equally important to learn about the types of compilers as well. There are 6 types of compilers:
Binary compiler
This type of compiler is used to translate source code into binary format. Thus, the information is stored compactly so the computer can understand the program.
Bytecode compiler
This specialized compiler translates high-level source code into concise machine code to execute on the target machine. Developers need to write high-level language to use this compiler.
Cross Compiler
This compiler type allows developers to compile and run codes on different platforms. Developers use this compiler to check whether the codes work on a different platform.
Hardware compiler
Hardware compilers compile source code by converting them into machine code. These are used in computer games, operating systems, and embedded systems.
Just-in-time (JIT) compiler
This compiler is faster than other traditional compilers. It eliminates unnecessary code and reduces the program size. The reduced and concise size of the program makes it more efficient.
Source-to-source compiler
Developers use source-to-source compilers to translate source code written in different programming languages into targeted executable machine code. The whole process can be conducted both automatically and manually.
Six 6 Phases Compiler
An online Java compiler conducts the translation process of high-level Java code into low-level machine code in 6 distinct phases. Now that you have learned the overview of compilers let’s check these 6 phases:
Lexical Analysis
This is the initial stage of compilation. In this stage, the compiler scans high-level source code. After proper scanning, the high-level input programs are translated into tokens.
These tokens are a set of characters that define it as a unit of information in the programming language.
Comments