How is a complier distinguished from an interpreter?

A compiler translates the entire source code of a programming language into machine code before execution, creating an executable file that can be run independently. In contrast, an interpreter translates code line by line at runtime, executing commands directly without producing a separate executable. This means compilers generally offer faster execution after the initial compilation, while interpreters allow for more immediate testing and debugging. Each approach has its own advantages and use cases depending on the requirements of the programming task.