Välikoodi

Välikoodi, often translated as intermediate code or intermediate representation, is a programming language construct used in compilers. It acts as a bridge between the source code written by a programmer and the machine code that a computer can directly execute. Instead of directly translating high-level source code into low-level machine instructions, a compiler first translates the source code into an intermediate representation. This intermediate form is typically simpler and more abstract than machine code, but more detailed and less abstract than the original source code.

The primary purpose of välikoodi is to facilitate compiler optimizations and to make compilers more portable. By using an intermediate representation, a compiler can perform a variety of optimizations on the code independently of the specific source language and the target machine architecture. This means that a single front-end for a source language can be combined with multiple back-ends for different machine architectures, each generating the same intermediate code. Similarly, a single back-end for a target machine can handle intermediate code generated from various source languages. Common forms of välikoodi include three-address code, abstract syntax trees, and bytecode. Its use simplifies the design of compilers, allowing for modularity and reusability of components.