Compiler vs Interpreter vs Transpiler

compiler-construction language-agnostic terminology interpreter transpiler
RBT picture RBT · Aug 31, 2016 · Viewed 14.1k times · Source

During a reactJS session that I was attending, the presenter used a term transpiler for some code conversion/porting happening. I've always used and heard the terms compiler and interpreter when it comes to converting a language code to a runnable form on a computer system/machine. Transpiler is new to me. How is a transpiler different from a compiler or an interpreter and why it is really needed?

Answer

Jim M picture Jim M · Nov 17, 2017

Compiler - compiles code to a lower level code.

Example:

  • "Developer code" -> "Machine code"
  • PHP -> C
  • Java -> bytecode

Transpiler - compiles code to same level of code/abstraction.

Example:

  • "Developer code" -> "Another developer code or version"
  • JavaScript ES2015+ -> JavaScript ES5

Interpreter - interprets code, not really in the same class/league/context with the two above.

Example: php.exe

  • "Your PHP code/scripts inside index.php" -> "Results to html or just like pure index.html"

Related questions

Difference between Left Factoring and Left Recursion

What is the difference between Left Factoring and Left Recursion ? I understand that Left factoring is a predictive top down parsing technique. But I get confused when I hear these two terms.

Read More
What does Backpatching mean?

What does backpatching mean ? Please illustrate with a simple example.

Read More
Where can I learn the basics of writing a lexer?

I want to learn how to write a lexer. My university course had an assignment where we had to write a parser (and a lexer to go along with it) but this was given to us with no instruction or …

Read More