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Compiler Phases

The document outlines the phases of a compiler, which include Lexical Analysis, Syntax Analysis, Semantic Analysis, Intermediate Code Generation, Code Optimization, Code Generation, Symbol Table Management, and Error Handling. Each phase has specific tasks, such as breaking source code into tokens, checking syntax and semantics, generating intermediate code, optimizing it, and producing final machine code. Understanding these phases is essential for grasping how compilers function and for both theoretical and practical applications in programming.

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Ankit Jangir XII-Non Medical
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4 views8 pages

Compiler Phases

The document outlines the phases of a compiler, which include Lexical Analysis, Syntax Analysis, Semantic Analysis, Intermediate Code Generation, Code Optimization, Code Generation, Symbol Table Management, and Error Handling. Each phase has specific tasks, such as breaking source code into tokens, checking syntax and semantics, generating intermediate code, optimizing it, and producing final machine code. Understanding these phases is essential for grasping how compilers function and for both theoretical and practical applications in programming.

Uploaded by

Ankit Jangir XII-Non Medical
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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💥 PHASES OF A COMPILER 💥

A compiler is a special type of software that helps us convert a high-level programming


language (like C, Java, Python) into low-level machine language (0s and 1s) that a
computer can understand and execute.
But it doesn’t do this all at once — it goes through different stages or phases, and each
phase has a specific job.

Let’s explore each phase with full explanation, in the order they work, and with an easy-to-
understand example.

🔍✨ 1. LEXICAL ANALYSIS PHASE (The Scanner Phase)


🧠 📝 What is Lexical Analysis?

This is the first phase of a compiler.


The job of this phase is to read the source code written by the programmer character by
character and break it into tokens.
A token is a small unit of code like a keyword, identifier (variable names), operators,
numbers, symbols, etc.

🔧 ✅ What it does:

 Breaks the code into tokens.


 Removes unnecessary spaces, tabs, and comments.
 Detects invalid characters.
 Sends valid tokens to the next phase.

🔤 Example:

Source code:

Lexical analyzer will convert this into:

So it turns the raw code into meaningful units!

🧰 Tools used:
 Lex (a tool for lexical analysis)

2. SYNTAX ANALYSIS PHASE (The Parser Phase)


🧠 📝 What is Syntax Analysis?

This is the second phase. After the lexical analyzer sends the tokens, the parser checks
whether these tokens are arranged according to the grammar rules of the programming
language.

It builds a Parse Tree or Syntax Tree, which shows the structure of the code.

🔧 ✅ What it does:

 Checks for syntax errors (e.g., missing semicolon, wrong order).


 Ensures the code follows the grammar rules.
 Creates a tree-like structure representing the code.

🧠 Example:

Input:

Parser ensures:

 x is a variable
 = is an assignment
 5 + 3 is a valid expression

And it builds this syntax tree:

This structure is sent to the next phase.


📚🎯 3. SEMANTIC ANALYSIS PHASE (Meaning Checker
Phase)
🧠 📝 What is Semantic Analysis?

This is the third phase. It checks whether the code makes logical sense. Even if it is
syntactically correct, it may be semantically wrong.

It checks:

 Variable declarations
 Type compatibility (e.g., int + float)
 Proper use of operators

🔧 ✅ What it does:

 Checks undeclared variables


 Checks type mismatches
 Validates function calls and return types
 Stores information in a Symbol Table

❌ Example of semantic error:

Syntax is correct, but semantically it's wrong.

🧾⚙️4. INTERMEDIATE CODE GENERATION PHASE


(Middle Language Phase)
🧠 📝 What is Intermediate Code?

This is the fourth phase. After checking that the code is syntactically and semantically
correct, the compiler now converts it into an intermediate form that is not yet machine
code but is closer to it.

This makes it easier to optimize and translate to different machines.

🔧 ✅ What it does:

 Converts parse tree to a simpler code


 Uses temporary variables and simple instructions
 Prepares code for optimization

🧠 Example:

🔍🚀 5. CODE OPTIMIZATION PHASE (Speed and


Efficiency Phase)
🧠 📝 What is Code Optimization?

This is the fifth phase, and its main goal is to make the code better, faster, and more
efficient, without changing what it does.

🔧 ✅ What it does:

 Removes unnecessary instructions


 Combines instructions where possible
 Uses better ways to perform the same task

🧠 Example:
🧱💻 6. CODE GENERATION PHASE (Final Machine
Code Phase)
🧠 📝 What is Code Generation?

This is the final phase where the compiler converts the intermediate optimized code into
actual machine code or assembly code, which the computer can directly execute.
🔧 ✅ What it does:

 Assigns memory and registers


 Converts each operation to machine-level instruction
 Produces the final executable code

🧠 Example:

Intermediate:

Final Machine Code (in Assembly):

This machine code can now run on the computer.

📖📁 7. SYMBOL TABLE MANAGEMENT (Support


Phase)
🧠 📝 What is Symbol Table?

It is a data structure used by the compiler to store all variable names, function names,
types, scopes, memory addresses, etc.

This is used by multiple phases to quickly look up info about variables and functions.

🐞🔧 8. ERROR HANDLING PHASE (Support Phase)


🧠 📝 What is Error Handling?

At every phase, the compiler checks for errors and tries to report them clearly so the
programmer can fix them. It also tries to recover and continue compilation.

Errors can be:

 Lexical (wrong character)


 Syntax (missing ;)
 Semantic (type mismatch)

🎯 🌈 FLOW OF COMPILER PHASES


(WITH DIAGRAM)

🧠📚 Real-Life Example (To Remember


Easily)
Imagine writing a school essay and sending it to a publisher:

1. 🧹 Lexical Analysis = You separate words and remove spelling mistakes.


2. 📏 Syntax Analysis = You check grammar and punctuation.
3. 📚 Semantic Analysis = You check the meaning and logic of your sentences.
4. 🧾 Intermediate Draft = You make a rough version.
5. ✂️Optimization = You shorten it without losing meaning.
6. Code Generation = You print the final version.

✅ Conclusion (Very Important for Exam!)


👉 The compiler works in well-organized phases to understand, check, translate, and
optimize the source code.
👉 Each phase has a clear job, and all work together to make sure the final code is correct,
fast, and ready to execute.
👉 Understanding these phases helps us know how a compiler works internally, which is
very important for both theory exams and practical compiler development.

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