Understanding the Difference Between Source Code and Executable Code

Learn the key differences between source code and executable code in programming.

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Source code is the human-readable set of instructions written by a programmer using a specific programming language. Executable code is the machine-readable binary file created after the source code is compiled, which the computer can directly run. In short, source code is what developers write, and executable code is what runs on the computer.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is source code? Source code is the human-readable instructions written by a programmer in a specific programming language.
  2. What is executable code? Executable code is the machine-readable version of source code that computers can run after compilation.
  3. Why is compiling source code important? Compiling translates source code into executable code, allowing the computer to perform the specified tasks.
  4. Can you edit executable code? No, executable code is machine code and cannot be easily modified like source code.

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