executable file

1. A file containing machine code (in binary form) that has been linked and is ready to be run on a computer. May also refer to a collection of instructions that can be executed by a command interpreter or processor, for example a DOS batch file.

See also compile, execute, file, interpret, link.

2. In 4GL, an executable file can be either interpretive p-code (with a .4GI or .4GO extension) or compiled C code (with a .EXE extension). Compiled p-code must be executed using the P-code Runner. The compiled C code must be run from the command line.

See also command line, p-code.