Python compile() built-in function

From the Python 3 documentation

Compile the source into a code or AST object. Code objects can be executed by exec() or eval(). source can either be a normal string, a byte string, or an AST object. Refer to the ast module documentation for information on how to work with AST objects.

Introduction

The compile() function in Python is a built-in function that is used to convert a string or an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) object into a code object. This code object can then be executed by functions like exec() or eval().

Example

Here’s a basic example of how it works:

code_string = """
def hello_world():
    print('Hello, world!')

hello_world()
"""

# Compile the string into a code object
# The mode 'exec' is used for a sequence of statements.
# The mode 'eval' is for a single expression.
# The mode 'single' is for a single interactive statement.
code_object = compile(code_string, '<string>', 'exec')

# Execute the code object
exec(code_object)

# Output:
# Hello, world!

Python compile() built-in function

Introduction

Example

Relevant links