Comparing source code to bytecode

Interpreted languages, such as Python, typically take raw source code and generate bytecode. Bytecode is encoded instructions that are on a lower level than source code but not quite as optimized as machine code, that is, assembly language.

Bytecode is often executed within the interpreter (which is a type of virtual machine), though it can also be compiled further into assembly language. Bytecode is used primarily to allow easy, cross-platform compatibility. Python, Java, Ruby, Perl, and similar languages, are examples of languages that use bytecode interpreters for different architectures while the source code stays the same.

While Python automatically compiles source code into bytecode, there are some options and features that can be used to modify how the interpreter works with bytecode. These options can improve the performance of Python programs, a key feature as interpreted languages are, by nature, slower than compiled languages