Management Information System (MIS) Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of a compiler?

1. A) To execute code line-by-line

2. B) To convert source code into machine code

3. C) To manage database queries

4. D) To display web pages

The correct answer is: B) To convert source code into machine code

The primary purpose of a compiler is indeed to convert source code into machine code. This process involves taking the high-level programming languages that developers write in (like C++, Java, or Python) and translating them into machine language, which is a set of instructions that the computer's processor can execute directly. Compilers perform several essential tasks during this translation process, which often include lexical analysis, syntax analysis, semantic analysis, optimization, and code generation. By generating machine code that is optimized for performance, compilers enable software to run efficiently on the computer's hardware. This function distinguishes compilers from interpreters, which execute code line-by-line rather than generating a complete executable. Other options in the question serve different purposes. For instance, executing code line-by-line describes the function of an interpreter rather than a compiler. Managing database queries relates to database management systems, which handle data retrieval, manipulation, and storage, not the compilation of code. Displaying web pages is a function performed by web browsers, which render HTML and provide a user interface for interacting with web content. Therefore, they do not align with the core function of translating source code into machine code.