ITPEC FE Subject A April 2026 Question 16

Linker — combines separately compiled object modules into a single executable.

Building a C program runs in stages: the compiler turns each source file into an object module, then the linker resolves the references between those modules (and against libraries) and produces a form the loader can execute.

Answer (d)

Why not others:
- (a) Assembler — translates assembly language into machine code; it produces object modules rather than combining them
- (b) Compiler — translates C source into object modules, the step immediately before linking
- (c) Interpreter — executes source statements directly and never produces a linked executable

Key rule: Compiler works on one translation unit at a time; the linker is the only stage that sees them all together and joins them.

AI-generated — may contain errors