Engineering a Compiler, 2nd Edition

Chapter 5. Intermediate Representations

The central data structure in a compiler is the intermediate form of the program being compiled. Most passes in the compiler read and manipulate the ir form of the code. Thus, decisions about what to represent and how to represent it play a crucial role in both the cost of compilation and its effectiveness. This chapter presents a survey of ir forms that compilers use, including graphical ir, linear irs, and symbol tables.

Keywords: Intermediate Representation, Graphical ir, Linear ir, ssa Form, Symbol Table

5.1. Introduction

Compilers are typically organized as a series of passes. As the compiler derives knowledge about the code it compiles, it must convey that information from one pass to another. Thus, the ...