I keep seeing posts and tutorials mentioning using a compiler or build tools when working with WordPress, and I’m a bit confused.

I’m mostly a Python developer, and I associate compilers with languages like C or Java — not with something like WordPress, which is PHP-based.

So:

Why would anyone need a compiler when developing for WordPress?

Is there any situation where a compiler or build step (in Python or otherwise) actually makes sense for WordPress?

If I’m building a plugin or customizing a theme, should I care about any of this at all?

I feel like I might be mixing up terminology (like compilers vs. bundlers vs. transpilers), but I’d really appreciate a clear explanation.