Translation and execution errors

Overview

Translation error, execution error and semantic error found at translation time.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is a translation error?

   Model answer

   A translation error is a fault detected by the translator before the program runs, and it prevents an executable program from being produced.

2. 2

   What is an execution error?

   Model answer

   An execution error occurs while the program is running and either stops it or causes it to produce a wrong result.

3. 3

   Give three examples of translation errors.

   Model answer

   A missing closing bracket, a keyword that has been spelled wrongly and the use of a variable that was never declared are all translation errors.

4. 4

   Give three examples of execution errors.

   Model answer

   Dividing by zero, reading beyond the last element of an array and attempting to open a file that does not exist are all execution errors.

5. 5

   Why can a translator not detect an attempt to divide by zero in a general calculation?

   Model answer

   The value of the divisor is not known until the program runs, because it depends on the data supplied at that time.

6. 6

   What is a semantic error found at translation time? Give an example.

   Model answer

   It is a fault in meaning rather than in form, such as assigning a string of text to a variable that has been declared to hold an integer.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.