What is a characteristic of a compiled language?

A characteristic of a compiled language is that it converts code into machine language before executing it. This process involves a compiler taking the entire source code and translating it into machine code or bytecode, which can then be run by the computer. This pre-execution translation allows the compiled code to typically run more efficiently and quickly, as it is already optimized for the target machine's architecture.

In contrast, languages that execute code line by line tend to be interpreted rather than compiled, requiring the code to be read and executed in real-time, which can result in slower performance. Options that involve requiring no prior translation or relying on browser execution are indicative of interpreted languages or languages designed for web environments, which do not conform to the characteristics of compiled languages. Thus, the mechanism of converting the entire program into machine language prior to execution is what distinctly characterizes compiled languages.