C programs into machine code

[Nwb]

How do C compilers convert C source code into machine code? Does the C compiler convert its code into assembly language and then automatically find and use the assembler for that particular processor (the assembler which knows how to convert assembly into the instruction set of that particular processor).

If so, how does the C compiler find the assembler? Is there a way I can find it on my computer? Or does the C compiler itself come shipped along with an assembler which supports various CPU architectures?

[Salem]

The compiler + assembler + linker are usually bundled together as a complete toolchain.

Compiler does foo.c -> foo.s
Assembler does foo.s -> foo.o
Linker does foo.o (and all other .o and .lib/.a files) -> foo.exe

[Nwb]

But won't different processors have different instruction set? How does the assembler figure out what the instruction set of the processor is?

[Salem]

Assemblers are hard wired to their target processors.

Sure, there may be a bunch of options for processor variants (-386, -486, -pentium etc).
But if you're on an ARM machine, then you need an ARM based toolchain.


Cross compiler - Wikipedia

For your average desktop machine, the host machine and the target machine are one and the same.

[Nwb]

thanks salem.