A compiled programming language is a type of programming language that translates the entire code into machine code before running any of the instructions or steps. This machine code can then be executed by the computer directly, without the need for a separate compiler to be run each time the code is executed.
In contrast, an interpreted programming language translates the code into machine code at runtime, meaning that the instructions are executed by the computer as they are encountered in the code. This can make interpreted languages slower than compiled languages, but it also allows for more flexibility and can make it easier to debug and modify the code.
Examples of compiled programming languages include C, C++, and Rust, while examples of interpreted programming languages include Python, JavaScript, and PHP.