Binaries refer to files containing compiled code that can be executed directly by a computer’s processor. In computing, programs written in high-level programming languages such as C, C++, Java, or Python need to be translated into machine-readable instructions before they can be executed. This translation process is performed by special software called compilers or interpreters.
Once the source code of a program is compiled or interpreted, the resulting output is a binary file, also known as an executable file or binary executable. Binaries are typically represented in binary code, a sequence of 0s and 1s that correspond to specific machine instructions understood by the computer’s CPU.
Binaries come in various formats depending on the operating system and architecture for which they are compiled. Common binary formats include ELF (Executable and Linkable Format) used in Unix-based systems, PE (Portable Executable) used in Windows, and Mach-O used in macOS.
Binaries can range from simple command-line utilities to complex graphical applications and libraries. They can be distributed as standalone executables or bundled with other files and resources required for their operation.
In addition to executable binaries, there are also binary files that contain data rather than code, such as image files, audio files, video files, and database files. These binary data files store information in a binary format that is optimized for efficient storage and retrieval by computers.