What is compiler, linker, loader?

Question

I wanted to know in depth meaning and working of compiler, linker and loader. With reference to any language preferably c++.

Answer 1

• Compiler: A language translator that converts a complete program into machine language to produce a program that the computer can process in its entirety.
• Linker: Utility program which takes one or more compiled object files and combines them into an executable file or another object file.
• Loader: loads the executable code into memory ,creates the program and data stack , initializes the registers and starts the code running.