Executable

In computing, executable code or an executable file or executable program, sometimes simply an executable, causes a computer "to perform indicated tasks according to encoded instructions."

These instructions are traditionally machine code instructions for a physical CPU.

Description

However, in a more general sense, a computer file containing instructions (such as bytecode) for a software interpreter may also be considered executable; even a scripting language source file may therefore be considered executable in this sense.

The exact interpretation depends upon the use; while the term often refers only to machine code files, in the context of protection against computer viruses all files which cause potentially hazardous instruction execution, including scripts, are lumped together for convenience.

Executable code is used to describe sequences of executable instructions that do not necessarily constitute an executable file; for example, sections within a program.

See also

• Central processing unit
• Instruction set
• Machine code

External links

• Executable @ Wikipedia