The Tool Desk
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What compile() does
The built-in compile() parses and compiles source using a specified mode, returning a reusable code object by default. It can also return an AST object when requested through AST compiler flags. Compilation is a separate stage from execution: a code object can later be passed to exec() or eval(), depending on what it contains. See the Python 3.14.8 built-in functions documentation.
Successful compilation means the input was accepted by the parser and compiler with the selected mode and options. It does not prove the program will behave correctly, or that running it is safe.
Choose the mode that matches the source
| Mode | What it accepts | Typical next step |
|---|---|---|
'exec' |
A statement or suite of statements | Pass the code object to exec() if you intend to run it. |
'eval' |
A single expression | Pass the code object to eval() if you intend to evaluate it and obtain its value. |
'single' |
A single interactive statement | When run interactively, a non-None expression result is printed. |
For example, this compiles an expression, then evaluates it as a distinct step:
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code = compile("1 + 2", "<string>", "eval")
result = eval(code)
print(result) # 3A statement suite uses 'exec' mode. Only execute source you trust:
code = compile("total = 2 + 3", "<string>", "exec")
namespace = {}
exec(code, namespace)
print(namespace["total"]) # 5Security: compilation is not a sandbox
The Python Software Foundation’s Python 3.14 built-in functions documentation warns under exec(): “This function executes arbitrary code. Calling it with untrusted user-supplied input will lead to security vulnerabilities.” Compiling source first does not neutralize it. Do not pass untrusted source to exec() or eval(); changing __builtins__ is not a security mechanism, either. See the official documentation.
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The signature and its arguments
In the Python 3.14 documentation, the signature is compile(source, filename, mode, flags=0, dont_inherit=False, optimize=-1). The source may be a string, byte string, or AST object.
| Argument | Practical meaning |
|---|---|
source |
Source text, bytes, or an AST object to compile. |
filename |
A label associated with the source and used in diagnostics. Use a real, recognizable path for file-associated or generated-module source; use '<string>' when the input has no file. |
mode |
'exec', 'eval', or 'single', according to the kind of input. |
flags |
Compiler options and future-feature flags; options can be combined as bit flags. |
dont_inherit |
When false, applicable compiler options and future statements from the surrounding code may be inherited in addition to explicit flags. When nonzero, only the explicit flags apply. |
optimize |
-1 follows the interpreter’s optimization setting. Level 0 keeps assertions and docstrings; 1 removes assert statements; 2 also removes docstrings. |
Using compiler flags
Avoid unexplained hard-coded flag numbers. For future-feature flags, use the values exposed by the relevant __future__ feature objects; AST compiler flags are available in ast. The exact combination you need depends on the compilation task. The built-in functions documentation describes how flags and dont_inherit interact.
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Compile without running, or choose another tool
Use compile() when an in-memory code object (or AST output) is useful. It can also be used to check whether input compiles under a particular mode and set of flags without executing it; that check says nothing about runtime safety or correctness.
| Need | Appropriate path | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Compile a statement suite in memory | compile(source, filename, 'exec') |
Returns a code object; execution, if desired and safe, is a separate exec() call. |
| Compile one expression in memory | compile(source, filename, 'eval') |
Returns a code object; evaluation is a separate eval() call. |
| Compile an interactive statement | compile(source, filename, 'single') |
Supports interactive behavior, including printing non-None expression results when run. |
| Parse source for syntax structure | ast.parse() or AST compiler flags |
Use this when analysis or transformation needs an AST rather than an executable code object. |
| Write a bytecode cache for one source file | py_compile |
Writes a .pyc cache file rather than simply returning an in-memory code object. See the py_compile documentation. |
| Compile source files across directories | compileall |
Provides directory-oriented compile workflows. See the compileall documentation. |
Errors and practical limits
Invalid source can raise SyntaxError, including source containing a null character or input that cannot be decoded. Invalid modes or flags, and surrogate characters in string source, can raise ValueError. Extremely complex input can raise MemoryError or RecursionError; oversized input can raise OverflowError. Exact edge behavior can vary by Python release.
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The CPython documentation also cautions that sufficiently large or complex input compiled to an AST can crash the interpreter because of AST compiler stack-depth limits. Do not treat compilation as a safe way to process adversarially large input. See the CPython built-in functions documentation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Version note
The signature and behavior described here follow the Python 3.14 documentation. CPython’s main-branch documentation notes a module parameter added in Python 3.15; it is forward-looking and is not part of the Python 3.14 signature above. Check the documentation for the Python version you actually use: Python 3.14 built-in functions and CPython’s current documentation source.
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