What is the primary function of a compiler?

The primary function of a compiler is to convert source code, which is written in a high-level programming language, into machine code or binary code that a computer's processor can execute directly. This transformation is crucial because computers can only understand and run instructions in machine language.

When a programmer writes code in languages such as C, Java, or Python, that code needs to be translated into a form that the machine can comprehend. The compiler analyzes the source code for syntactic and semantic correctness, builds an intermediary representation, and ultimately generates machine code that corresponds to the high-level instructions.

While other options mention important aspects of programming and software development, such as runtime execution, debugging, and memory optimization, these functions are not the primary role of a compiler. Instead, they are related to other aspects of the software development lifecycle or may involve different tools and technologies like interpreters, debuggers, or memory management systems.