How a program using C compiler is executed on a host machine?

Let us first understand how a program, using C compiler, is executed on a host machine. The C compiler, compiles the program and translates it to assembly program (low-level language). An assembler then translates the assembly program into machine code (object).

How is C program compiled and executed?

Linker takes the object code generated by an assembler, as input. Loader takes executable module generated by a linker as input. Linker combines all the object modules of a source code to generate an executable module. Loader allocates the addresses to an executable module in main memory for execution.

What are the phases in the execution of the C program?

C programs typically go through six phases to be executed. These are: edit, preprocess, compile, link, load and execute.

What are the stages of compilation in C?

Four Steps of Compilation: preprocessing, compiling, assembly, linking.

How does C compiler work?

Once you have written a source file using a text editor, you can invoke a C compiler to translate it into machine code. The compiler then invokes the linker, which combines the object files, and any library functions used, in an executable file.

What happens when you compile a program in C?

After the source code has been assembled, it will produce an Object files (e.g. .o, . obj) and then linked, producing an executable files. An object and executable come in several formats such as ELF (Executable and Linking Format) and COFF (Common Object-File Format).

How the program is executed?

How Does a Program Run? The CPU runs instructions using a “fetch-execute” cycle: the CPU gets the first instruction in the sequence, executes it (adding two numbers or whatever), then fetches the next instruction and executes it, and so on.

What do you mean by execution of C program?

Execution in computer and software engineering is the process by which a computer or virtual machine reads and acts on the instructions of a computer program. Each instruction of a program is a description of a particular action which must be carried out, in order for a specific problem to be solved.

What is the starting point of C program execution?

The main function serves as the starting point for program execution. It usually controls program execution by directing the calls to other functions in the program.

How compiler compile any program?

A compiler takes the program code (source code) and converts the source code to a machine language module (called an object file). Another specialized program, called a linker, combines this object file with other previously compiled object files (in particular run-time modules) to create an executable file.

What are the phases of compiler?

Summary

• Compiler operates in various phases each phase transforms the source program from one representation to another.
• Six phases of compiler design are 1) Lexical analysis 2) Syntax analysis 3) Semantic analysis 4) Intermediate code generator 5) Code optimizer 6) Code Generator.