What happens to high-level language statements during compilation?

High-level language statements undergo a transformation process during compilation that ultimately converts them into a low-level language, typically assembly or machine code. This step is fundamental in programming, as high-level languages are designed to be human-readable, while low-level languages are more closely aligned with the machine's hardware.

The conversion to a low-level language allows the program to be executed by the computer's processor. This process facilitates the efficient execution of the code, as low-level languages provide a more direct representation of the operations performed by the machine. Ultimately, this transformation is crucial because the computer cannot execute high-level code directly; it needs the instructions in a form that is understandable to its hardware.

In this context, other options do not accurately describe the compilation process. For instance, translating to a high-level source code does not happen, as the original high-level code is being translated into a lower-level format. Executing statements directly pertains more to interpreted languages rather than compiled ones. While runtime optimization might be part of the broader compilation or execution process, it does not specifically describe what happens to high-level statements in the stage of compilation itself.