One of the purposes of using intermediate code in compilers is to :

The correct answer is Option 3) Increase the chances of reusing the machine-independent code optimizer in other compilers.

Key Points

• Intermediate Code Generation is an important phase in a compiler, performed after semantic analysis and before target code generation.
• It produces an intermediate representation (IR) that is independent of the machine architecture.
• This allows for the creation of a modular compiler where the front-end (analysis phase) and back-end (code generation phase) are separated.
• The machine-independent code optimizer can then be reused across multiple target architectures or compilers.

Additional Information

• Advantages of Using Intermediate Code:
  • Improves compiler portability – write once, target multiple architectures.
  • Facilitates machine-independent optimizations.
  • Makes compiler testing and debugging easier due to standardization.
• Common Forms of Intermediate Representations:
  • Three-Address Code (TAC)
  • Postfix Notation
  • Syntax Trees
  • Static Single Assignment (SSA) Form

Why other options are incorrect:

• Option 1: Parsing and semantic analysis are earlier stages; intermediate code generation doesn’t make them simpler.
• Option 2: Error recovery and reporting are handled during parsing and semantic analysis, not intermediate code generation.
• Option 4: Register allocation is done during code generation, which is later than intermediate code generation.

Conclusion: Intermediate code is a powerful abstraction that allows a single compiler front-end to target multiple hardware platforms through reusable back-end optimizations, making Option 3 the correct answer.