In computing, executable code , an executable file , or an
executable program , sometimes simply referred to as an executable or
binary , causes a computer "to perform indicated tasks according to
encoded instructions", as opposed to a data file that must be interpreted
(parsed) by a program to be meaningful.
The exact interpretation depends upon the use. "Instructions" is traditionally
taken to mean machine code instructions for a physical CPU. In some contexts,
a file containing scripting instructions (such as bytecode) may also be
considered executable.
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