What are Binaries?

Binary is a term that can be used to describe a number of things, commonly around a specific form of numerical notation. In this case, however, we are defining what are binaries are in relation to software.

What Are Binaries In Software?

To begin with, the binary being referred to under this term is a file. More specifically, it refers to a file that is in binary format, which means it contains data that’s intended to be read by a machine, rather than a human. Binary files contain a series of 0s and 1s, which is the basic language of computers.

Its content is such that it must be interpreted by a program or a hardware processor which understands its format. It cannot be identifiable in any other sort of external format so that any and all programs which wanted to look for data within a certain place within the file could not find it. In essence, the program or processor would have to know exactly how the data is organized inside the file to make use of the file.

Consequently in relation to software, binaries is a term used to refer to a particular set of executables or compiled computer program files that will perform a particular function.

How And Where Are Binaries Used?

They are typically utilized in many open source projects and can be re-compiled from source code.

These pre-compiled binaries are typically set up to be read and executed by the most popular platforms and operating systems.

These files are typically labelled with the file extension such as “.bin” and are ready to run. Programmers typically ask for these source codes by asking another programmer to send them the binaries, which is more or less a slang term for asking for an object code. In addition to providing the object code, a binary can also contain data that is ready to be used within the program as well.

A file can be transmitted as a binary from one place to another without other programs handling it, attempting to look into it, or change it. Other programs will simply pass it along as a data chunk made up of 0s and 1s that will have no meaning outside of the network or device that it is meant to be read and executed.

Binaries are typically platform-specific. A file compiled for Windows won’t run on macOS, and vice versa. That’s why software often needs to be compiled separately for each platform it supports.

What Types Of Files Are Binaries?

It’s not just .bin file types that are binary files. In fact, some of the most common file types that you use every day are binaries, designed to be read only by specific software or systems.

Common examples of binary files include:

• Executable Files: These are programs or applications that you can run on your computer. For example, the .exe files on Windows or .app files on macOS are binary files. They contain machine code that your computer’s processor can execute.
• Image Files: Files like .jpeg, .png, or .gif are binary files. They contain binary data that represents the pixels of an image.
• Audio Files: Files like .mp3 or .wav are also binary files. They contain binary data that represents audio signals.
• Database Files: Many databases store their data in binary format for efficiency.

Binary files are used by virtually everyone who uses a computer, often without realizing it. Whenever you run an application, open a photo or listen to a song on your computer, you’re using binary files.

Why Are Binary Files Used?

People use binary files because they are a compact and efficient way to store and execute data on a computer. A computer can read and write binary files far quicker than text files, and they can also store a wider range of data types.