What is Executable Code commonly referred to in programming?

Executable code is commonly referred to as object code in programming. This term describes the output of a compiler or assembler that is in a form that can be executed by a computer's processor. When source code, which is written in a high-level programming language, is compiled, it is transformed into object code, which can be directly run as a program.

Object code includes machine code that the computer can understand, making it a crucial stage in the software development lifecycle. Understanding that executable code is effectively the result of transforming source code into a format suitable for execution helps programmers and security professionals ensure that the right protective measures are in place as software moves from development to deployment.