Arizona State University (ASU) CSE240 Introduction to Programming Languages Midterm Practice Exam

Image Description

Question: 1 / 400

What is the difference between source code and machine code?

Source code is machine-readable, while machine code is human-readable.

Source code is the final program, while machine code is a preliminary version.

Source code is human-readable, while machine code is executable by the computer.

Source code is considered human-readable because it consists of instructions written in a programming language that is understandable to humans, such as Python, Java, or C++. Developers write programs in source code, making it easier for them to read, write, and maintain the code.

On the other hand, machine code is the binary representation of that source code, consisting of the low-level instructions that a computer’s CPU can execute directly. This code is not easily readable by humans, as it is made up of sequences of binary digits (0s and 1s).

This distinction is essential in programming, as the source code must typically be compiled or interpreted into machine code before it can be executed on a computer. Understanding the roles of both types of code is fundamental in programming, as it highlights the process of transforming a human-readable format into a format that the machine can understand and act upon.

Get further explanation with Examzify DeepDiveBeta

Source code and machine code are the same.

Next Question

Report this question

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy