Object code

In computing, object code, or sometimes an object module, is what a compiler produces.

In a general sense object code is a sequence of statements (or instructions) in a computer language, usually in:

• A machine code language (that is, a binary file)
• An intermediate language such as Register Transfer Language (RTL)

Object files can in turn be linked to form an executable file or library file.

Not a complete program

In order to be used, object code must either be placed in an executable file, a library file, or an object file.

Object code is a portion of machine code that has not yet been linked into a complete program. It is the machine code for one particular library or module that will make up the completed product. It may also contain placeholders or offsets, not found in the machine code of a completed program, that the linker will use to connect everything together. Whereas machine code is binary code that can be executed directly by the CPU, object code has the jumps partially parameterized so that a linker can fill them in.

Assemblers

An assembler is used to convert assembly code into machine code (object code).

Linkers

A linker links several object (and library) files to generate an executable.

See also

• Compiler
• Source code
• [[Statement (computer science)

External links

• Object code @ Wikipedia