compile time


compile time

(programming)The period of time during which a program'ssource code is being translated into executable code, asopposed to run time when the program is being executed. Aswell as the work done by the compiler, this may includemacro preprocessing as done by cpp for example. The finalstage of program construction, performed by the linker,would generally also be classed as compile time but might bedistinguished as link time.

For example, static data in a C program is allocated atcompile time whereas non-static data is allocated at run time, probably on the stack.

compile time

The time it takes to translate a program from source language into machine language. Linker time may also be included in compile time. See compile and linker.