What is the Difference Between Assembler and Interpreter?

The main difference between an assembler and an interpreter lies in the type of code they process and how they process it. Here are the key differences between the two:

• Assembler:

1. It is a special type of compiler that translates assembly language code into machine language code.
2. Assembly language is a low-level language that uses mnemonics like ADD, MUL, MUX, SUB, DIV, and MOV.
3. Assemblers are used for specific hardware, as the code they generate is machine-dependent.
4. Errors are displayed only after the entire program has been translated.

• Interpreter:

1. It is a tool that executes instructions written in a high-level programming language.
2. Interpreters either directly execute high-level code or translate it to an intermediate code first, then execute the intermediate code.
3. They are used for specific programming languages, as the code they execute is language-dependent.
4. Errors are displayed for each interpreted instruction, if any.

In summary, assemblers are responsible for converting assembly language code into machine language code, while interpreters execute instructions written in high-level programming languages. Assemblers are used for specific hardware, whereas interpreters are used for specific programming languages.

Comparative Table: Assembler vs Interpreter

Here is a table that highlights the differences between an assembler and an interpreter:

An assembler is a program that translates assembly language, which consists of mnemonics like GO, HALT, JUMP, and NOT, into machine language. In contrast, an interpreter is a program that converts high-level language into machine language. The main differences between the two are the level of the language they work with and how they translate the code.