Why are translators used to translate the computer programming languages?

Answer 1

They are not translators, they are either compilers or interpreters. High-level source code cannot be executed in its native form, it must be converted to machine code, the native language of the computer. Compiled languages compile the entire source code into a standalone machine code executable. Once compiled, the executable can be transferred to other computers. Interpreted languages require additional software, an interpreter, to execute. So long as a machine has the required interpreter, the source code can be executed. This is achieved by converting statements to machine code one statement at a time.

C++ is an example of a compiled language and is used to produce much of the software running on computers today. Some versions of BASIC, such as QBASIC, are interpreted. Source code is not compiled, it is interpreted by the QBASIC interpreter which is built into the code-editor. Java is an example of a language that is both compiled and interpreted. Rather than compiling to machine code it compiles to byte code which can then be executed by the Java Virtual Machine. Java programs are highly portable as they need only be compiled once and can be executed on any device that has a JVM. By comparison, C++ programs must be compiled separately for each platform. That is, a Microsoft Windows executable will not run on an Apple Mac -- the source code must be compiled separately for each. Such code must be crafted to cater for each platform, with filters to exclude or include platform-specific code as appropriate for the current compilation.