What is the primary function of an interpreter or compiler?

The primary function of an interpreter or compiler is to translate source code into machine code. This process is essential because high-level programming languages, which are more understandable for humans, need to be converted into machine code, a low-level language that computers can execute.

Interpreters work by reading and executing the source code line by line, which allows for immediate execution but can be slower than compiled code. Compilers take the entire source code and translate it into machine code before execution, which often results in faster execution times since the translated code can be optimized for performance.

This translation process is critical to making programming languages usable, as it bridges the gap between human-friendly syntax and computer-executable instructions. Understanding this function is fundamental for anyone working with programming languages and their execution methods.