What is Bytecode?
Bytecode is a high-level, platform-independent, machine-readable code that is compiled from source code and executed by an interpreter or virtual machine (VM). It's a intermediate representation of code that's not yet machine-specific. Key aspects of bytecode: - Platform-independent: Bytecode can run on any platform that has a compatible VM or interpreter, without needing to be recompiled. - High-level: Bytecode is often higher-level than machine code, retaining more of the original source code's semantics. - Interpreter or VM: Bytecode is executed by an interpreter or VM, which translates it into machine code. Examples of bytecode: - Java bytecode (.class files): Compiled from Java source code, executed by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). - .NET bytecode (CIL - Common Intermediate Language): Compiled from C#, F#, etc., executed by the .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR). - Python bytecode (.pyc files): Compiled from Python source code, executed by the Python interprete