Executables

Container formats for machine executable code. These often define different sections to be loaded into memory. Some formats may be compatible with different CPU architectures.

Directly executable

 * a.out
 * Amiga Hunk
 * Atari ST executable (.prg)
 * COFF — The Common Object File Format, an executable format originally designed for use in UNIX System V
 * Commodore 64 binary executable (.prg)
 * DOS executable (.com) — 16 bit DOS executable
 * EPOC/Symbian executable
 * EXE — MS-DOS, MS Windows, and others
 * MS-DOS EXE
 * New Executable (NE)
 * Linear Executable
 * Portable Executable (PE, actually a COFF variant)
 * Executable and Linkable Format (ELF)
 * GOFF
 * Intel HEX
 * iOS app (.app) (see also IPA for archived version, and Mobile Provision file for provision file accompanying apps)
 * Mach-O
 * Multiboot
 * Native Client Executable (sandboxed executable for Chromium browsers)
 * OS/360 Object File Format
 * PRC (Palm OS)
 * Psion IMG/APP
 * Psion OPO/OPA
 * Towns OS EXP

Shared libraries, chained files, etc.
(can't be run by themselves, but are used at runtime by other executables)


 * Borland Graphics Interface (.bgi)
 * DOS device driver (.sys)
 * Dynamic library (OS X or iOS) (.dylib)
 * Dynamic-link library (Windows) (.dll)
 * Turbo Pascal chain file (.chn)

Interpreted program files

 * HamsterSpeak compiled file
 * Tokenized BASIC

Resource data used by executables and sometimes embedded in them
See Resources.

Meta-info files used in execution of programs/packages

 * Assembly manifest (Windows) (.manifest)
 * Java Network Launching Protocol
 * Mobile Provision file
 * Program information file (PIF)
 * DESQview Program Information File (.dvp)

Virtual machine code
(see UVC-based preservation for use of virtual machines in archival preservation)
 * ART (Android Runtime)
 * BEAM (Erlang)
 * Bytecode (or p-code) — programs "compiled" into machine-independent code that loads or runs more quickly than raw interpreted source code; runs in an interpreter
 * Dalvik Executable (DEX; virtual machine used in Android)
 * Java bytecode (aka 'class file')
 * Lingo bytecode
 * Olive (executable archive embedding a virtual machine emulating original environment)
 * PYC (Python bytecode)
 * UCSD p-system p-code
 * Universal Machine (ICFP programming contest 2006)
 * Uxn program file
 * WebAssembly
 * Z-code

Macros or automated scripting

 * 4DOS compressed batch file
 * ActiveMime
 * Batch file
 * Bourne shell script
 * C shell script
 * DoItAgain
 * Photoshop Action File (.atn)
 * Sikuli
 * Windows Script File
 * WordPerfect macro (.wpm, .wcm)

For additional formats, see Programming Languages.

See also Executable envelopes.

Executable compression
Refer to Executable compression.

Executable envelopes
(Generated executables: self-extracting archives and installers, executable documents, etc.)

Refer to Executable envelopes.

Links

 * Download Wrappers and Unwanted Software are pure evil
 * Flappy Bird implementations for various classic platforms
 * Library of Congress Recommended Format Specifications: Software/Gaming
 * Semantic Analysis of Native Programs, introducing CodeReason
 * C++ links: executables