binary file
Noun: A computer file that contains data encoded in a binary format, meaning the information is represented using sequences of 0s and 1s (bits) and is intended to be read and processed by a computer application or the machine itself. Unlike plain text files, which use standardized character encoding (like ASCII or UTF-8) for human-readable text, a binary file's contents are not directly interpretable as text characters by humans. The data can represent executable programs, images, audio, video, compressed archives, or any application-specific data format.
A binary file is a technical term used in computing to distinguish files containing non-textual, application-specific data from simple text files. It is used when discussing file formats, data storage, software development, and data transmission.
- The compiled program is saved as a with a extension on Windows.
- Image formats like JPEG and PNG are examples of types.
- When you download software, you are typically downloading a that your computer can execute.
- Database applications often store their data in proprietary for efficiency.
- Binary vs. Text File: The core distinction in file I/O (Input/Output) operations. Programs must open files in the correct mode ( for "read binary" vs. for "read text" in many programming languages) to handle them properly.
- Binary Data: The raw content of a is often referred to as binary data. Manipulating this data requires understanding its specific structure and format.
- "To be binary": Informally, a file can be described as (e.g., "Is that file plain text or is it binary?").
- Binary (adjective): Relating to, composed of, or involving two things; in computing, using the binary number system (0 and 1).
- Binary code is the fundamental language of computers.
- Binary Format (noun phrase): The specific arrangement of data within a binary file.
- The document describes the binary format of the archive file.
- Executable File (noun phrase): A specific type of binary file containing instructions a computer can directly execute.
- Object File (noun phrase): A binary file created by a compiler from source code, containing machine code and data for a linker.
- Non-text file
- Machine-readable file
- Application file
- Binary file transfer: The process of sending a binary file over a network, which requires protocols that preserve all the bits accurately (unlike some early text-based protocols).
- Binary file format: The specification that defines how data is organized within a particular type of binary file (e.g., the MP3 file format).
- Corrupt binary file: A binary file that has been damaged, often making it unreadable by its intended application.
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(computer science) a computer file containing machine-readable information that must be read by an application; characters use all 8 bits of each byte
