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What does "interpreter" mean in programming?
interpreter is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.
Definition
A program that executes source code directly, line by line, without compiling it first. Python, Ruby, and JavaScript (in the browser) are interpreted languages. Interpreters are slower than compiled code but easier to run and test.
Example
"The Python interpreter executes the script from top to bottom without a compilation step."
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