What is the purpose of program compilation?

The purpose of program compilation is to convert the entire program into machine code, which is the low-level code that the computer's hardware can execute directly. This process involves translating the high-level language (like C, Java, or Python) written by the programmer into a format that the computer's processor understands.

When a program is compiled, the compiler analyzes the source code and performs several tasks, such as syntax checking, optimization, and code generation. The end result is an executable file containing machine code, which can be run by the computer's operating system. This entire compilation occurs before any execution of the program takes place, making it distinct from interpretation, where code is executed line by line.

The other options do not accurately describe the main goal of compilation. Modifying the program during execution or executing all statements pertains to interpreting rather than compiling. Translating high-level code into assembly language could be a step or intermediate process in some compilation systems, but it does not represent the complete purpose of compilation. Hence, the choice highlighting the conversion to machine code without immediate execution embodies the essence of what compilation achieves.