Is Python Really Interpreted? Unveiling the Truth Behind its Execution Model

Is Python Compiled or Interpreted? A Deeper Look

Confusion often surrounds Python's execution model. It's labeled an interpreted language, yet its code is first translated into an intermediate form. To clarify this, it's crucial to distinguish between interpretation and compilation based on the implementation, not the language itself.

Traditionally, interpreted languages are processed on-the-fly, while compiled languages undergo an upfront conversion to machine code. However, Python's execution model takes a hybrid approach.

• Compilation Phase: Python code is compiled to a form called bytecode. This step optimizes performance by translating higher-level code into a more efficient intermediate representation. Bytecode is not machine code but a portable format that can run on any machine with a Python interpreter.

• Execution Phase: The bytecode can be executed in two ways:

  • Interpretation: Using the reference implementation (CPython), the bytecode is interpreted into machine code on-the-fly. This is a relatively slow process compared to compilation.
  • Compilation: Specialized implementations like PyPy employ a just-in-time (JIT) compiler to translate the bytecode into optimized machine code at runtime. This approach can significantly improve performance.

In summary, Python is more accurately classified as a compiled language. While it does not undergo direct machine code compilation, the bytecode compilation step confers performance advantages over pure interpretation. Depending on the implementation used, the bytecode can be either interpreted or further compiled to machine code at runtime.

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