A Level Computer Science OCR Practice Exam

What is one of the main advantages of using a compiler over an interpreter?

1. It requires constant recompilation of code

2. It outputs the source code directly

3. It allows for faster execution of programs

4. It translates code line-by-line

The correct answer is: It allows for faster execution of programs

One of the main advantages of using a compiler over an interpreter is that it allows for faster execution of programs. This occurs because a compiler translates the entire source code of a program into machine code before execution, resulting in optimized executable files. Once compiled, the program can be run multiple times without the need for recompilation, leading to quicker execution on subsequent runs. In contrast, interpreters execute code line-by-line, which can introduce delays since each line has to be translated in real-time. This method can be beneficial for debugging or execution in environments where immediate feedback is necessary, but it typically results in slower performance for larger programs during runtime. Moreover, while recompilation is not required once a program is compiled, this is not a feature of interpreters. The option regarding direct source code output does not accurately describe the functionality of compilers, which rather produce machine code output. Thus, the comprehensive nature of compilation significantly contributes to performance enhancements, making it a preferred choice in many programming scenarios.