Which term refers to a program that translates computer code from one programming language to another?

A compiler is a program that translates computer code written in one programming language into another programming language, typically converting higher-level programming languages such as C++ or Java into machine code that can be executed by a computer's CPU. This process involves several stages, including lexical analysis, syntax analysis, semantic analysis, optimization, and code generation, which collectively transform source code into an executable format.

In contrast, an interpreter translates and executes code line-by-line at runtime instead of producing a standalone executable. Debuggers are tools used for testing and debugging other programs, enabling developers to detect and correct errors, but they do not convert code. Linkers are responsible for combining various pieces of code and libraries into a single executable program but are not involved in the translation of code from one programming language to another. Hence, the term that correctly describes a program that performs the translation of code between languages is indeed the compiler.