Executable File

An Executable File is a computer file which contains operational directions for a computer. These directions (which are the binary result of compiled program language) directly instruct the operating system and hardware to perform certain tasks. Executable files are very common—every computer program is at least in part an executable file. Many complete programs include other files which contain various resources, configuration, and other data, but there always must be an executable program.

Where are they?[edit]

Executable programs come in many different forms. A program installer is itself an executable file, which loads the desired executable along with other resources into the operating system. Executable files are also required to open non-executable files. Documents, for example, are opened by a word processor, such as Open Office's Writer, or Microsoft Word. There are also heavily integrated into the system. If one wishes to use the Windows system's calculator, they must run the calc.exe (probabably using the shortcut in the Start menu). If one wishes to view or open files on their desktop, they unwittingly use the executable program explorer.exe (which starts when the system initializes) to find their file before they use another program to open it.

Misuse of the Term[edit]

Although there are many executable files, there are also non-executable files which invoke (call) executable ones. For example, Java script files (file extensions .jre, .jar, .js, and .jse) are sometimes referred to as programs, but they are simply instructions for an executable already installed on the system. Even some program installers are this way. Microsoft Windows systems will sometimes have programs installed on them using Microsoft Installer files (.msi file extension). These files act like executable files, but actually contain nothing more that instructions and data for the install program included with the system to use.

Executable File Extensions[edit]

• .exe (Windows)
• .run (Apple)^[1]
• .app (Apple)^[2]

References[edit]