One-pass compiler

In computer programming, a one-pass compiler is a compiler that passes through the source code of each compilation unit only once. In other words, a one-pass compiler does not "look back" at code it previously processed. Another term sometimes used is narrow compiler, which emphasizes the limited scope a one-pass compiler is obliged to use. This is in contrast to a multi-pass compiler which traverses the source code and/or the abstract syntax tree several times, building one or more intermediate representations that can be arbitrarily refined.

While one-pass compilers may be faster than multi-pass compilers, they are unable to generate as efficient programs, due to the limited scope available. (Many optimizations require multiple passes over a program, subroutine, or basic block.) In addition, some programming languages simply cannot be compiled in a single pass, as a result of their design.

In contrast, some programming languages have been designed specifically to be compiled with one-pass compilers, and include special constructs to allow one-pass compilation. An example of such a construct is the forward declaration in Pascal. Normally Pascal requires that procedures be fully defined before use. This helps a one-pass compiler with its type checking: calling a procedure that hasn't been defined is a clear error. However, this requirement makes mutually recursive procedures impossible to implement:

function odd(n : integer) : boolean;
begin
   if n = 0 then
       odd := false
   else if n < 0 then
       odd := even(n + 1) { Compiler error: 'even' is not defined }
   else 
       odd := even(n - 1)
end;
   
function even(n : integer) : boolean;
begin
   if n = 0 then
       even := true
   else if n < 0 then
       even := odd(n + 1)
   else 
       even := odd(n - 1)
end;

By adding a forward declaration for the function even before the function odd, the one-pass compiler is told that there will be a definition of even later on in the program.

function even(n : integer) : boolean; forward;

function odd(n : integer) : boolean;
{ Et cetera.... }