Both compilers and interpreters translate code written in a high-level language that humans understand into machine code that computers can execute. However, they differ in their approach:

• Compilation: A compiler analyzes the entire program at once, translating it into machine code all at once. This machine code can then be run directly on the computer without needing the compiler again. Compiled programs tend to be faster as the machine code is optimized for the specific system.

• Interpretation: An interpreter reads the code line by line, translating and executing each line on the fly. There’s no separate machine code generated. This makes interpreted programs slower but allows for more interactive development and easier debugging since errors are caught line by line.