Interpreter
An interpreter is a computer program that directly executes instructions written in a programming or scripting language, without requiring them to have been previously compiled into a machine language program. It reads and executes code line-by-line or statement-by-statement, translating source code into machine code on the fly during runtime. This enables rapid development and testing, as changes can be made and run immediately without a separate compilation step.
Developers should learn about interpreters when working with scripting languages like Python, JavaScript, or Ruby, as they allow for quick prototyping, debugging, and iterative development. They are essential for dynamic languages where code flexibility and immediate execution are prioritized, such as in web development, data analysis, or automation scripts. Understanding interpreters helps optimize performance and troubleshoot runtime errors in interpreted environments.