interpretor

Interpretor is a variant spelling of interpreter, and in most modern technical writing the standard form is interpreter. The word can refer to one of two broad senses: a human interpreter who translates spoken or signed language between people who do not share a common language, and a software interpreter, a program that directly executes instructions written in a programming or scripting language without first compiling them into machine code.

As a human interpreter, the role involves converting meaning between languages in real time or after conferences. Consecutive interpreters render speech in segments after the speaker pauses, while simultaneous interpreters provide interpretation in real time, often in a booth with specialized equipment. Interpreters may specialize by field (legal, medical, conference), language pair, or sign language. Training, linguistic proficiency, cultural knowledge, and ethical standards are typical requirements, and many jurisdictions offer or require certification.

In computing, an interpreter is a software component that reads source code, parses it, and executes it directly or translates each instruction into actions on the fly. This is contrasted with compilers, which translate entire programs into machine code before execution. Interpreters support rapid development and platform portability but may run more slowly than compiled code. Some languages commonly described as interpreted—such as Python, Ruby, and JavaScript—actually use a mix of interpretation and just-in-time compilation in modern implementations.

Etymology wise, interpretor is generally considered a misspelling of interpreter, although historical texts may show occasional alternate forms. In most contexts, the standard term is interpreter.