Computer Science – 5.2 Language Translators | e-Consult
5.2 Language Translators (1 questions)
The table illustrates the key stages in the execution of a Java program in console mode. It begins with the Source Code, which is written by the programmer in a human-readable format. This source code is then processed by the Compiler (javac). The compiler's role is to translate the source code into Bytecode (.class files). This bytecode is platform-independent, meaning it can run on any system with a JVM.
The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) then takes over. The JVM reads the bytecode and interprets it, translating each bytecode instruction into a set of operations that the underlying operating system can understand. Crucially, the JVM often employs a Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler. This means that frequently executed sections of the bytecode are compiled into native Machine Code during runtime. This JIT compilation significantly improves the program's performance by avoiding repeated interpretation of the same bytecode.
Therefore, the table clearly shows the distinction between compilation (source code to bytecode) and interpretation (bytecode to machine code) in the execution flow of a Java program.