The purpose of compiling code is to translate the high-level programming language (source code) written by the programmer into a machine-readable format (binary or object code) that a computer's processor can execute. This process is essential because computers can only understand machine language (binary instructions).

Key purposes of compiling code:

1. Translation to Machine Code:
   Converts human-readable code into low-level instructions that the hardware can execute.

2. Error Checking:
   Detects and highlights syntax errors, type mismatches, and other issues in the source code before execution.

3. Optimization:
   Improves the performance of the code by optimizing it for speed or memory usage.

4. Executable File Creation:
   Produces a standalone executable file (e.g., .exe in Windows or binary in Linux) that can run independently without the need for the source code or compiler.

5. Code Security:
   Hides the source code by converting it into a binary form, making it harder for others to reverse-engineer or modify the program.