Is C# is a compilar or interpreter?

Question

Is C# is a compilar or interpreter? How to differentiate these two? Thanks inadvance

Vulpes · Answer

Visual C# is definitely a compiler which translates C# source code to intermediate language (IL) and metadata. As Pravin said, the CLR's just in time (JIT) compiler then translates the IL to native code instructions 'on the fly' and the latter is then executed. As Pravin also said, an interpreter translates each line of source code to native code and then executes that. It will still do this even if a line has been translated previously. In contrast, the JIT compiler compiles a method to native code the first time it is called and caches the native code. If the method is called again, the native code is obtained from the cache rather than being generated afresh.

Pravin More · Answer

Hi srinivas, see,a compiler translates from one language to another language. Since a JIT compiler receives an IL as its input and outputs native machine binary, it easily fits this criteria and should be called a compiler i think. n one more thing is ,JIT compiler produces binary machine codes translating block source code. Interpreter translates line by line......so JIT is Compilar. Thanks, Pravin.

Is C# is a compilar or interpreter?

Answers (2)