What is the role of a language translator in computer programming, and what are the types of language translators?

The role of a language translator in computer programming is to convert the source code, written by programmers in a high-level language, into machine code, which can be understood and executed by a computer. This process is crucial because it allows programmers to write code in a more human-friendly language, which is then translated into a form that the computer can process.

There are three main types of language translators in computer programming:

1. Compiler: A compiler is a translator that converts the entire source code into machine code in one go. It then saves this machine code as an executable file. If there are any errors in the source code, the compiler identifies them and stops the translation process.

2. Interpreter: An interpreter, on the other hand, translates the source code line by line while the program is running. It does not create an executable file, and if there are any errors, it stops the translation at that point.

3. Assembler: An assembler translates assembly language, which is a low-level programming language, into machine code. This type of translation is less common, as assembly language is much closer to machine code than high-level languages, and is therefore more difficult for humans to write and understand.