Computer Science: An Overview: Global Edition (12th Edition)

Published by Pearson Higher Education
ISBN 10: 1292061162
ISBN 13: 978-1-29206-116-0

Chapter 1 - Data Storage - Section 1.8 - Data and Programming - Questions & Exercises - Page 75: 1

Answer

Python is considered an $interpreted\ language$ because users can type program fragments interactively at a prompt, rather than having to save the script, invoke a compiler, and then execute the program.

Work Step by Step

β€œIs Python interpreted or compiled?” The question is usually stated by people who don't know the language but have a concept in mind of compiled languages and interpreted languages and the difference between them, which they are asking for. Assuming this person knows other languages (let's say C and Java) this simple question can be rephrased to: "is Python natively executed by the processor or is there an interpreter executing the control flow of the program?" And that is an easy answer, it's interpreted. Any other "complicated" answer can be applied to other languages, too, (e.g.: C with Docker, Java with JIT), but is not answering the underlying question. $Finally$ Python is considered an $interpreted\ language$ because users can type program fragments interactively at a prompt, rather than having to save the script, invoke a compiler, and then execute the program.
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