Intermediate Code

Intermediate code is a semi-compiled representation of a program generated by a compiler during the translation of high-level source code into machine code. It serves as an abstraction layer between the original source code and the final machine-executable code, facilitating optimization, portability, and ease of further compilation. This code is typically written in a low-level, platform-independent form, such as three-address code, bytecode (used in Java), or intermediate language (used in .NET). It is neither directly executable by the hardware nor intended for direct human interpretation. Instead, it acts as an intermediary step, allowing compilers to focus on efficient translation without being tied to specific hardware architectures. Intermediate code is extensively used in multi-platform environments. For instance, Java programs are compiled into bytecode, which can be executed on any device with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Similarly, in .NET, source code is converted into Common Intermediate Language (CIL), which is executed by the Common Language Runtime (CLR). By decoupling high-level programming from machine-specific details, intermediate code enhances the flexibility, scalability, and maintainability of software development.