Machine code

Machine code is a computer program written in machine language. It uses the instruction set of a particular computer architecture.^[1] It is usually written in binary.^[2][3][4][5] Machine code is the lowest level of software. Other programming languages are translated into machine code so the computer can execute them.

An instruction tells the process what operation to perform. Each instruction is made up of an opcode (operation code) and operand(s). The operands are usually memory addresses or data. An instruction set is a list of the opcodes available for a computer. Machine code is what assembly code and other programming languages are compiled to or interpreted as.

Program builders turn code into another language or machine code. Machine code is sometimes called native code. This is used when talking about things that work on only some computers.^[6]

1. ↑ "What is machine language?". Webopedia. September 1996. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
2. ↑ "What is Machine Code?". Wise Geek. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
3. ↑ "What is machine code". Whatis.com. Archived from the original on 2010-05-04. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
4. ↑ "Machine language - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 2010-04-24.^{[permanent dead link]}
5. ↑ "Machine language". Computer Hope. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
6. ↑ "Managed, Unmanaged, Native: What Kind of Code Is This?". developer.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-30. Retrieved 2008-09-02.