When comparing compiled and interpreted languages, which statement is true?

Compiled languages translate the source code prior to execution, resulting in a machine code file that can be directly executed by the computer's hardware. This pre-execution translation allows programs written in compiled languages to run faster since the process of converting high-level code to machine code occurs only once, and the already compiled code is executed multiple times without the overhead of translation during runtime. This approach contrasts with interpreted languages, which convert code into machine-readable instructions on-the-fly during execution, typically leading to slower performance since translation occurs each time the program runs. The direct relationship between compilation and execution speed underscores why this statement accurately reflects the functioning of compiled languages.