What is a key distinction between compiled languages and interpreted languages?

A key distinction between compiled languages and interpreted languages is that compiled languages translate the entire source code into machine code before execution. This process creates an executable file, which allows the program to run directly on the machine's hardware without further translation during execution. This often results in faster performance since the code is already in machine language and does not require any intermediary processing while running.

In contrast, interpreted languages typically translate code line-by-line during execution, which means they rely on an interpreter to read and execute the code directly. This mechanism can introduce overhead, making interpreted programs generally slower than their compiled counterparts, but it also allows for greater flexibility in writing and testing code dynamically. Understanding this distinction clarifies the fundamental differences in how these two types of programming languages operate, highlighting their performance implications and use cases.