SSC IMD SA 2017 – Question 195

Into what does the Java Compiler translate source code?

• Machine code
• Assembly code
• Byte code
• JVM code

Detailed Explanation:

The correct answer is c) Bytecode (बाइट कोड).

The Java Execution Architecture:

• Compilation Phase: When Java source code (written in .java files) is compiled using the Java compiler (javac), it is translated into an intermediate, architecture-neutral instruction format known as Bytecode, which is saved in .class files.
• Platform Independence: Bytecode is not machine code for any specific physical CPU; instead, it consists of highly optimized instructions designed to be executed by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This enables Java’s primary capability: “Write Once, Run Anywhere” (WORA).
• Execution Phase: At runtime, the JVM interprets the bytecode or uses a Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler to compile hot paths of bytecode directly into native machine code for the host processor.