What are the stages in the compilation process?

The stages in the compilation process typically include the following:

1. Lexical Analysis: This stage involves scanning the source code to convert it into tokens, which are the basic building blocks of the code.

2. Syntax Analysis (Parsing): In this stage, the tokens are analyzed according to grammatical rules to create a syntax tree or parse tree.

3. Semantic Analysis: This step checks for semantic errors and ensures that the statements in the code are meaningful and adhere to the programming language’s rules.

4. Intermediate Code Generation: The compiler translates the syntax tree into an intermediate representation (IR) that is easier to manipulate.

5. Code Optimization: The intermediate code is optimized to enhance performance and reduce resource usage without altering the program’s output.

6. Code Generation: This stage produces the final machine code or assembly code that can be executed by the computer’s hardware.

7. Code Optimization (Final): An additional optimization phase may occur during or after the code generation process to further optimize the final output.

8. Linking: The final machine code may be linked with libraries or other modules to create an executable program.

Each of these stages plays a critical role in transforming high-level source code into executable machine code.