From David Bolton,
Your Guide to C / C++ / C#.
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Definition: Machine code is the name for the Instructions that a CPU can execute. It's rather difficult to read as it is just numbers in memory. There are programs that can convert the numbers back into assembly language but unless you are pretty skilled or trying to break a protection scheme, there is little use or need for it.

Compilers generate machine code from your C or C++ source code.

Glossary:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Also Known As: Binary Code

Examples: Compiler writers use all sorts of tricks so that the machine code generated by the compiler is optimized to execute very rapidly.