[[Image:Zbasic_advert.png|thumb|right|200px|Advert for Z-Basic i in [[Amstrad Computer User]]]]
ZBASIC fell somewhere between a traditional compiler and an interpreter. As an early advertisement described it:
''ZBASIC is an “Interactive Compiler.” This means it is resident while you write your BASIC programs. You may compile your program and run it or save it, without destroying your resident BASIC program! In fact, jumping back and forth between your compiled program and your BASIC program is one of its best features!''
Despite its tight integration with interpreted BASIC, ZBASIC compiled to pure Z80 machine language. Compilation time was very fast, described as two seconds for a 4K program.