Object code - Revision history

Larsbrinkhoff: Mention machine code and macrocode.

2025-07-13T05:10:19Z

Mention machine code and macrocode.

Jnc: Relationship between 'object code', 'instruction set architecture' and 'program compatible'

2024-01-11T02:51:25Z

Relationship between 'object code', 'instruction set architecture' and 'program compatible'

Jnc: /* See also */ +Self-modifying code

2021-06-11T06:21:17Z

‎See also: +Self-modifying code

Jnc: /* See also */ +Pure code

2021-06-11T03:03:46Z

‎See also: +Pure code

Jnc: +cat

2018-12-15T23:58:14Z

+cat

Jnc: Add links

2018-12-02T13:32:40Z

Add links

Jnc: Add links, make more explicit

2018-05-04T14:28:18Z

Add links, make more explicit

Jnc: rm dup linkage

2017-09-21T19:40:08Z

rm dup linkage

Jnc: avoid redir

2017-09-21T19:38:41Z

avoid redir

Jnc: Add PIC

2017-09-09T15:43:27Z

Add PIC

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:10, 13 July 2025
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−	'''Object code''', or '''executable binary''' (sometimes shortened to plain 'binary') is a [[program]] in the low-level form which a computer's [[Central Processing Unit\|CPU]] [[hardware]] can execute directly; i.e. [[instruction]]s for the CPU to [[execute]]. (The specification shared by the members of a CPU family for their object code is now called its [[instruction set architecture]]; CPUs which can execute the same object code are said to be [[program compatible]].)	+	'''Object code''', '''machine code''', or '''executable binary''' (sometimes shortened to plain 'binary') is a [[program]] in the low-level form which a computer's [[Central Processing Unit\|CPU]] [[hardware]] can execute directly; i.e. [[instruction]]s for the CPU to [[execute]]. (The specification shared by the members of a CPU family for their object code is now called its [[instruction set architecture]]; CPUs which can execute the same object code are said to be [[program compatible]].) Sometimes the term '''macrocode''' is used to contrast against [[microcode]].

	To run it, all that need be done is read the [[program]]'s instructions into [[main memory]] from wherever it is stored, and tell the CPU to start executing it.		To run it, all that need be done is read the [[program]]'s instructions into [[main memory]] from wherever it is stored, and tell the CPU to start executing it.

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:51, 11 January 2024
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	'''Object code''', or '''executable binary''' (sometimes shortened to plain 'binary') is a [[program]] in the low-level form which a computer's [[Central Processing Unit\|CPU]] [[hardware]] can execute directly; i.e. [[instruction]]s for the CPU to [[execute]].	+	'''Object code''', or '''executable binary''' (sometimes shortened to plain 'binary') is a [[program]] in the low-level form which a computer's [[Central Processing Unit\|CPU]] [[hardware]] can execute directly; i.e. [[instruction]]s for the CPU to [[execute]]. (The specification shared by the members of a CPU family for their object code is now called its [[instruction set architecture]]; CPUs which can execute the same object code are said to be [[program compatible]].)

	To run it, all that need be done is read the [[program]]'s instructions into [[main memory]] from wherever it is stored, and tell the CPU to start executing it.		To run it, all that need be done is read the [[program]]'s instructions into [[main memory]] from wherever it is stored, and tell the CPU to start executing it.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 * [[Pure code]]
 * [[Relocatable binary]]
 [[Category: Computer Basics]]

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==See also==
 * [[Relocatable binary]]
 [[Category: Computer Basics]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:58, 15 December 2018
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	* [[Relocatable binary]]		* [[Relocatable binary]]
		+
		+	[[Category: Computer Basics]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Object code''', or '''executable binary''' (sometimes shortened to plain 'binary') is a program in the low-level form which a computer's [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] hardware can execute directly; i.e. [[instruction]]s for the CPU to execute.
+'''Object code''', or '''executable binary''' (sometimes shortened to plain 'binary') is a [[program]] in the low-level form which a computer's [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] [[hardware]] can execute directly; i.e. [[instruction]]s for the CPU to [[execute]].
 To run it, all that need be done is read the [[program]]'s instructions into [[main memory]] from wherever it is stored, and tell the CPU to start executing it.
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 A given program's object code is usually set up to be loaded in main memory at a given location; if it is loaded elsewhere, it usually cannot function - although this depends on the details of a particular CPU, as some supported '''location-independent code''', which could be loaded and run at any address.
-It is now usually stored on [[disk]], although historically it was stored on a long list of types of media, including [[magnetic tape]] and [[paper tape]]),
+It is now usually stored on [[disk]], although historically it was stored on a long list of types of media, including [[paper tape]], [[punched card]]s, and [[magnetic tape]].
-On older computers with front panels, it was possible to 'toggle in' progams (i.e. deposit the [[word]]s of the program directly into main memory, using the switches on the front console).
+On older computers with [[front panel]]s, it was possible to 'toggle in' progams (i.e. deposit the [[word]]s of the program directly into main memory, using the switches on the front console).
 ==See also==
 * [[Relocatable binary]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Object code''', or '''executable binary''' (sometimes shortened to plain 'binary') is a program in the low-level form which a computer's [[CPU]] hardware can execute directly.
+'''Object code''', or '''executable binary''' (sometimes shortened to plain 'binary') is a program in the low-level form which a computer's [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] hardware can execute directly.
 To run it, all that need be done is read it into [[main memory]] from wherever it is stored, and tell the CPU to start executing it.
-A given program's object code is usually set up to be loaded in main memory at a given location; if it is loaded elsewhere, it usually cannot function - although this depends on the details of a particular [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]], as some supported '''location-independent code''', which could be loaded and run at any address.
+A given program's object code is usually set up to be loaded in main memory at a given location; if it is loaded elsewhere, it usually cannot function - although this depends on the details of a particular CPU, as some supported '''location-independent code''', which could be loaded and run at any address.
 It is now usually stored on [[disk]], although historically it was stored on a long list of types of media, including [[magnetic tape]] and [[paper tape]]),

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 To run it, all that need be done is read it into [[main memory]] from wherever it is stored, and tell the CPU to start executing it.
-A given program's object code is usually set up to be loaded in main memory at a given location; if it is loaded elsewhere, it usually cannot function.
+A given program's object code is usually set up to be loaded in main memory at a given location; if it is loaded elsewhere, it usually cannot function - although this depends on the details of a particular [[CPU]], as some supported '''location-independent code''', which could be loaded and run at any address.
-==Other sources==
+It is now usually stored on [[disk]], although historically it was stored on a long list of types of media, including [[magnetic tape]] and [[paper tape]]),
 On older computers with front panels, it was possible to 'toggle in' progams (i.e. deposit the words of the program directly into main memory, using the switches on the front console).