Which statement describes a key difference between compilation and interpretation?

Which statement describes a key difference between compilation and interpretation?

• A. Both compilation and interpretation translate code into machine code before execution.
• B. Compilation translates code into executable machine code before running, while interpretation translates and executes code line-by-line at runtime.
• C. Interpreters compile code to machine language, while compilers only check syntax.
• D. Compilation executes code line-by-line without prior translation.

Answer: (B)

The thing this question tests is how and when code gets translated into something the computer can run. A compiler takes the whole program and translates it into executable machine code before you run it, producing a standalone file that the processor executes directly. An interpreter, in contrast, translates and runs the code on the fly, typically processing one statement at a time at runtime rather than producing a complete machine-code executable first. So the statement that correctly describes the key difference says that compilation translates code into executable machine code before running, while interpretation translates and executes code line-by-line at runtime. The other options blur this distinction—some imply both wait to translate before running, some claim interpreters produce only syntax checks or that compilation runs line-by-line without prior translation—none of which capture the usual, fundamental contrast between ahead-of-time compilation versus on-the-fly interpretation.

The thing this question tests is how and when code gets translated into something the computer can run. A compiler takes the whole program and translates it into executable machine code before you run it, producing a standalone file that the processor executes directly. An interpreter, in contrast, translates and runs the code on the fly, typically processing one statement at a time at runtime rather than producing a complete machine-code executable first. So the statement that correctly describes the key difference says that compilation translates code into executable machine code before running, while interpretation translates and executes code line-by-line at runtime. The other options blur this distinction—some imply both wait to translate before running, some claim interpreters produce only syntax checks or that compilation runs line-by-line without prior translation—none of which capture the usual, fundamental contrast between ahead-of-time compilation versus on-the-fly interpretation.