Is Python interpreted, or compiled, or both?

From my understanding:

An interpreted language is a high-level language run and executed by an interpreter (a program which converts the high-level language to machine code and then executing) on the go; it processes the program a little at a time.

A compiled language is a high-level language whose code is first converted to machine-code by a compiler (a program which converts the high-level language to machine code) and then executed by an executor (another program for running the code).

Correct me if my definitions are wrong.

Now coming back to Python, I am bit confused about this. Everywhere you learn that Python is an interpreted language, but it’s interpreted to some intermediate code (like byte-code or IL) and not to the machine code. So which program then executes the IM code? Please help me understand how a Python script is handled and run.

15 Answers
15

Leave a Comment