What is the role of a 'compiler'?

The role of a compiler is to translate source code, which is written in a high-level programming language, into machine code, which is the low-level language understood by a computer's processor. This process is essential because computers cannot directly execute the high-level instructions that programmers write; they can only execute machine code.

The translation done by a compiler involves several steps, including lexical analysis, syntax analysis, semantic analysis, optimization, and code generation. By converting the high-level programming language into machine code, the compiler enables the program to run efficiently on the hardware.

This function is fundamental in software development as it allows programmers to write code in a more human-readable format while ensuring that it is eventually executed in an optimized and effective manner by the computer’s hardware.