What does it mean that Python is an 'interpreted' language?
Options
- You must translate each file to machine code by hand first
- You run the source file directly with
python app.py, no build step (Correct option) - It only works on Windows, where the interpreter is installed
- It cannot be used in production because it is too slow
Answer
You run your source file directly with the Python interpreter (python app.py), with no separate build step that you run yourself
Why
The interpreter is the program python. You give it a file and it reads and runs your code.
Compare with Java: you first compile the code to bytecode with javac, then run it with java.
Behind the scenes Python also does some translation, but from your point of view you just run the file.
Remember
Interpreted = run the source file directly with the interpreter.