Which statement accurately describes a feature of a compiler?

The selected statement accurately describes a fundamental function of a compiler. A compiler's primary role is to transform source code, which is written in a high-level programming language, into executable machine code that the computer's processor can understand and execute directly. This transformation is crucial for program execution, as the machine code is tailored specifically to the target architecture, allowing for efficient execution.

Compilers often perform several additional tasks during this process, such as syntax checking, semantic analysis, and various forms of optimization to improve the performance of the generated code. However, the core purpose remains focused on translating code into a form that can be directly executed by a computer.

In contrast, the other options describe related but distinct functions or limitations. While compilers can optimize code, that is not their sole defining feature. Generating documentation for source code is typically a task handled by separate tools, such as documentation generators. Furthermore, the misconception that compilers are used exclusively for dynamic languages is incorrect because compilers are primarily associated with statically typed languages, while interpreters, which execute code directly, are often linked to dynamic languages.