What is an executable file created by a compiler typically called?

An executable file created by a compiler is typically referred to as compiled code. When a programmer writes source code in a high-level programming language, that code needs to be translated into machine language that a computer can execute. This translation process is performed by a compiler, which takes the source code and produces a standalone file containing the machine code.

This compiled code is what the operating system can run directly. In contrast, source code is the human-readable version created by programmers before compilation, script files are typically interpreted rather than compiled, and bytecode refers to an intermediate form designed to be executed by a virtual machine rather than directly by the hardware. Thus, the term compiled code accurately describes the result of the compilation process, which is intended for execution.