Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Object code is a type of language that computers can read and understand. It is created by a computer programmer from their original code. Object code is protected by laws that prevent others from copying or using it without permission. It is difficult to change or understand object code, which makes it safe for public use.
Definition: Object code is a machine-readable language that is created from a computer programmer's source code. It is protected by copyright and patent laws and is difficult to reverse-engineer. Publicly available software is always in this form.
Example: When a programmer writes a program in a high-level language like Java or C++, the computer cannot understand it. The code needs to be translated into machine language, which is done by a compiler. The output of the compiler is object code, which can be executed by the computer.
Explanation: Object code is a low-level language that is specific to the computer architecture it is compiled for. It is not human-readable and cannot be easily modified or understood. This makes it difficult for someone to steal or copy the original source code. The example illustrates how object code is created from source code and how it is used by the computer to run programs.