Question: What is the difference between a compiled language and an interpreted language, and how does this affect the performance of a program

Paul Knight answered on 26 Feb 2025:

A compiled language (like C or C++) translates the entire program into machine code before running, making it faster but requiring time to compile.

An interpreted language (like Python or JavaScript) translates line by line as it runs, making it slower but easier to modify.

Compiled languages are great for performance-heavy tasks like gaming, while interpreted ones are ideal for quick development and flexibility in areas like web development.