Is JavaScript a compiled or interpreted language?

• JavaScript is generally considered to be an interpreted language, rather than a compiled language.

• The interpreter reads the source code line by line, parses it, and executes it. There is no separate compilation process in JavaScript like in compiled languages such as Java or C++.

• This means that the JavaScript code is executed directly by an interpreter, rather than being compiled into machine code before execution.

• However, modern JavaScript engines, such as the V8 engine used in Google Chrome and Node.js, use a just-in-time (JIT) compiler to optimize the execution of JavaScript code.

• The JIT compiler compiles frequently used code into machine code on the fly, which can improve the performance of JavaScript programs.

• Additionally, some tools and frameworks, such as Babel and Webpack, can be used to transpile and bundle JavaScript code, which can improve its compatibility with different browsers and improve performance by reducing the amount of code that needs to be downloaded and executed.

• Overall, while JavaScript is generally considered to be an interpreted language, modern engines and tools can use various techniques to optimize and improve the performance of JavaScript code.