Table of contents

What is a Compiler?

What is an Assembler?

Difference Between Assembler and Compiler

3.1.

Factor

3.2.

Compiler

3.3.

Assembler

Frequently Asked Questions

4.1.

Why is assembler faster than compiler?

4.2.

Which comes first compiler or assembler?

4.3.

What is the difference between assembled and compiled language?

4.4.

What is the basic difference between assembler and interpreter?

4.5.

What is an example of a compiler and assembler?

Conclusion

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2024

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Difference Between Compiler and Assembler

Author Prerna Tiwari

The main difference between compiler and assembler is compiler converts high-level programming language code into machine language code. whereas assembler converts assembly-level language (low-level assembly language) code into machine language code.

What is a Compiler?

A compiler will record all errors if the submitted code does not follow the rules of its language. This method is much faster than using an interpreter.

A compiler can transform only source code written in a familiar language. As a result, each high-level programming language requires its compiler for conversion. A computer system may also include multiple compilers to support multiple high-level languages.

Some examples of compilers according to their programming languages are:

Compilers	Language
JDeveloper, Eclipse IDE, BlueJ, etc.	JAVA
WebStorm, Komodo Edit, Atom IDE, etc.	JavaScript
JPython, CPython, Spyder, etc.	Python

What is an Assembler?

An assembler is responsible for translating low-level assembly code into relocatable machine code and creating data for the loader. Assembly language code includes mnemonics or symbols/instructions such as ADD, MUX, DIV, SUB, MOV, and so on. These mnemonics are converted to binary code by an assembler.

It generates machine code by evaluating the operation field's mnemonics or symbols/instructions and determining the literal and character values. A single-pass assembler completes all of this work in a single scan. It is otherwise a multiple pass assembler.
Assembly language instructions are contained in the input of an assembler or the source program. The assembler generates computer-readable machine code or object code. Assemblers are thus the first interface through which humans can communicate with machines.

Assemblers include GAS (GNU Assembler), MASM (Microsoft Macro Assembler), NASM (Netwide Assembler), and others.

Difference Between Assembler and Compiler

The difference between assembler vs compiler are as follows:

Factor	Compiler	Assembler
Converts	Source code to “machine-level language.”	Assembly codes to machine codes
Input	High-level language codes	Low-level assembly language code
Output	“Mnemonic” form of a machine code	Binary codes
Efficiency	More efficient and intelligent	Less efficient and intelligent
Number of operations	Single operation	Multiple operations
Number of phases	The compiler operates in six stages. Each of these programs converts the original program into a new format. They are as follows: 1. Lexical analysis 2. Syntax analysis 3. Semantic analysis 4. Intermediate code generator 5. Code optimizer 6. Code generator Each stage receives input from the one before it and outputs to the one after it.	Assemblers generate machine code in two phases: pass 1 and pass 2.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is assembler faster than compiler?

Assembler code is faster than compiler-generated code because it directly represents machine instructions. Compilers convert high-level code to machine code, which can include extra operations. Assembler code is more efficient but harder to write and understand.

Which comes first compiler or assembler?

First, the compiler comes into the role. It takes the Preprocessed source code as the input and converts it into the assembly code. Then, this assembly code works for the assembler as the input, and then the assembler converts the assembly code into the machine code.

What is the difference between assembled and compiled language?

Assembled languages involve translating source code into machine code using an assembler, producing executable code specific to the target architecture. Compiled languages, however, are translated into machine code by a compiler, resulting in platform-independent executables.

What is the basic difference between assembler and interpreter?

An assembler converts assembly language code into machine code, generating executable files. Conversely, an interpreter executes source code line by line without producing intermediate machine code or executables.

What is an example of a compiler and assembler?

GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) serves as an example of a compiler, translating high-level programming languages like C and C++ into machine code. On the other hand, NASM (Netwide Assembler) exemplifies an assembler, converting assembly language code into machine code.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the difference between compiler and assembler. While both play pivotal roles in translating code into machine-understandable instructions, they operate at different levels of abstraction and produce distinct outputs. Assemblers facilitate the conversion of assembly language into machine code, tailored to specific hardware architectures, whereas compilers translate high-level programming languages into platform-independent executables.