How does a linker handle multiple programming languages?

A linker handles multiple programming languages by translating them into a common object code format.

A linker is a program that combines object files to form an executable program. These object files are generated by compilers from different programming languages. The linker's job is to take these object files, which are written in different languages, and translate them into a common object code format. This is done so that the different parts of the program, written in different languages, can work together seamlessly.

The process begins when the source code is written in a high-level language, such as C++, Java, or Python. This source code is then compiled into an intermediate form known as object code. The object code is a low-level representation of the source code, but it is not yet in a form that can be executed by the computer. This is where the linker comes in.

The linker takes the object code files and combines them into a single executable file. In the process, it resolves any references or 'links' between the different parts of the code. For example, if a function written in C++ calls a function written in Python, the linker will ensure that the C++ function knows where to find the Python function in the final executable file.

The linker also handles the allocation of memory for the program. It determines where in memory each part of the program will reside, and adjusts the references in the code accordingly. This is necessary because different programming languages may handle memory allocation in different ways.

In summary, the linker plays a crucial role in enabling programs written in multiple languages to work together. It translates the object code from different languages into a common format, resolves links between different parts of the code, and handles memory allocation. Without the linker, it would be much more difficult to create complex programs that utilise the strengths of different programming languages.