GATE CS 2021 Set 2 — Question 23

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MSQ+1 / -0EasyThree-Address CodeIntermediate Code GenerationCompiler DesignParse TreesSyntax AnalysisBasic Blocks & Flow GraphsCode OptimizationSymbol TablesSemantic Analysis

Compiler Design → Code Optimization → Basic Blocks & Flow Graphs

Last updated 5 September 2026

Question

In the context of compilers, which of the following is/are NOT an intermediate representation of the source program?

Correct answer (D) Symbol table Solution Intermediate representations (IR) are used by compilers to represent the source code in a form that is easy to manipulate for optimizations and code generation. Common IRs include: Graphical IRs : Abstract Syntax Trees (AST), Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG), and Control Flow Graphs (CFG). Linear IRs : Three-Address Code (TAC) and P-code. A symbol table is a data structure used by the compiler to store information about the occurrences of various entities such as variable names, function names, objects, etc. While it is essential for all phases of compilation, it is not considered an intermediate representation of the source program itself. Therefore, option (D) is the correct answer. Turn this into a strength. Explore AI-powered practice and doubt support with Success Tracker.

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Correct answer (D) Symbol table Solution Intermediate representations (IR) are used by compilers to represent the source code in a form that is easy to manipulate for optimizations and code generation. Common IRs include: Graphical IRs : Abstract Syntax Trees (AST), Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG), and Control Flow Graphs (CFG). Linear IRs : Three-Address Code (TAC) and P-code. A symbol table is a data structure used by the compiler to store information about the occurrences of various entities such as variable names, function names, objects, etc. While it is essential for all phases of compilation, it is not considered an intermediate representation of the source program itself. Therefore, option (D) is the correct answer.

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GATE CS 2021 Set 2 — Question 23

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