In the context of compilers, which of the following is/are NOT an intermediate representation of the source program? A) Three address code B) Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) C) Control Flow Graph (CFG) D) Symbol table

Official answer: D) Symbol table. Explanation: Intermediate representations (IR) are data structures or languages used by a compiler internally to represent the source code during compilation (between front-end analysis and back-end code generation). - Three address code (TAC): A linear intermediate representation where each instruction has at most three operands. - Abstract Syntax Tree (AST): A tree-based intermediate representation representing the hierarchical syntactic structure of the source program. - Control Flow Graph (CFG): A graphical intermediate representation that captures the flow of control through basic blocks of a program. - Symbol table: A data structure used by compilers to store information about source-program identifiers (e.g., variable names, types, scope, memory locations). It is not an intermediate representation of the program itself. Therefore, the only option that is NOT an intermediate representation is (D).

Intermediate Code Generation

GATE CSE 2021 Set 2 · Q13

MSQ1 markEasy

Time00:00

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

Select all that applyOne or more correct

Pick every correct option

Solution

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Official answer: D) Symbol table

Intermediate Code Generation

Intermediate representations (IR) are data structures or languages used by a compiler internally to represent the source code during compilation (between front-end analysis and back-end code generation).

Three address code (TAC): A linear intermediate representation where each instruction has at most three operands.
Abstract Syntax Tree (AST): A tree-based intermediate representation representing the hierarchical syntactic structure of the source program.
Control Flow Graph (CFG): A graphical intermediate representation that captures the flow of control through basic blocks of a program.
Symbol table: A data structure used by compilers to store information about source-program identifiers (e.g., variable names, types, scope, memory locations). It is not an intermediate representation of the program itself.

Therefore, the only option that is NOT an intermediate representation is (D).

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This Intermediate Code Generation previous year question is Q13 of the GATE CSE 2021 Set 2 paper. Find more GATE CSE PYQs on Intermediate Code Generation in Compiler Design, or browse all GATE CSE PYQs.

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Intermediate Code Generation in GATE CSE

Intermediate Code Generation has 14 GATE CSE PYQs across 12 papers from 2011 to 2025. This is the only 1-mark MSQ among them, and it is the only one in GATE CSE 2021 Set 2.

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Independent practice explanation verified by the GateAI team. GATE is conducted by the IITs; question text follows the official paper.