Understanding the Lexical Analyzer in Compiler Phases
The Lexical Analyzer, also known as a lexer or scanner, is a crucial component of the compiler's architecture. It operates in the first phase of the compilation process. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Role of the Lexical Analyzer
- Token Generation: The primary function of the lexical analyzer is to read the source code and convert it into tokens. Tokens are the fundamental building blocks of the syntax, representing keywords, identifiers, operators, and punctuation.
- Input Stream Processing: It processes the input stream of characters and groups them into meaningful symbols. For example, it identifies strings of characters that correspond to language constructs.
- Ignoring Whitespace: The lexical analyzer also discards unnecessary whitespace and comments, ensuring that only relevant tokens are passed to the next phase.
Phases of a Compiler
- First Phase: The lexical analysis is categorized as the first phase of the compiler. After the source code is fed into the compiler, the lexer operates first to preprocess this code.
- Subsequent Phases: The output from the lexical analyzer is then sent to the syntax analyzer (or parser), which operates in the second phase. This structured approach is essential for efficient compilation.
Conclusion
In summary, the lexical analyzer is indeed part of the first phase of the compiler. It serves as the initial step in transforming raw source code into a structured format, enabling the subsequent phases to build upon a clean set of tokens. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is option 'C'.