A compiler is a computer program that translates a programming languages source code into machine code, bytecode or another programming language. The source code is typically written in a high-level, human-readable language such as Java or C++. A programmer writes the source code in a code editor or an integrated development environment (IDE) that includes an editor, saving the source code to one or more text files. Compilers that translate source code to machine code target specific operating systems and computer architectures. Compilers vary in the methods they use for analyzing and converting source code to output code, but they typically carry out the following steps:

• Lexical analysis: The compiler splits the source code into lexemes, which are individual code fragments that represent specific patterns in the code. The lexemes are then tokenized in preparation for syntax and semantic analysis.

• Syntactic and Semantic analysis: The compiler checks the syntax and semantics of the source code to ensure that it is valid and meaningful. This involves analyzing the structure of the code and checking that it conforms to the rules of the programming language.

• Code generation: The compiler generates machine code or bytecode that can be executed by the target platform.

Compilers play a critical role in the development process because they help catch syntax and semantic errors before running the code, which saves time and prevents crashes. They also optimize the code for efficient execution and produce faster, more compact programs.