[1] : WordNet (r) 2.0

binary file
     n : computer science a computer file containing
         machine-readable information that must be read by an
         application; characters use all 8 bits of each byte

[2] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

binary file
     
         a file containing binary data,
        i.e.  arbitrary bytes or words, as opposed to a text file
        containing only printable characters e.g. ascii characters
        with codes 10, 13, and 32-126.
     
        on modern operating systems a text file is simply a binary
        file that happens to contain only printable characters, but
        some older systems distinguish the two file types, requiring
        programs to handle them differently.
     
        a common class of binary files is programs in machine
        language "executable files" ready to load into memory and
        execute.  binary files may also be used to store data output
        by a program, and intended to be read by that or another
        program but not by humans.  binary files are more efficient
        for this purpose because the data e.g. numerical data does
        not need to be converted between the binary form used by the
        cpu and a printable ascii representation.  the
        disadvantage is that it is usually necessary to write special
        purpose programs to manipulate such files since most general
        purpose utilities operate on text files.  there is also a
        problem sharing binary numerical data between processors with
        different endianness.
     
        some communications protocols handle only text files,
        e.g. most electronic mail systems before mime became
        widespread in about 1995.  the ftp utility must be put into
        "binary" mode in order to copy a binary file since in its
        default "ascii" mode translates between the different text
        line terminator characters used on the sending and receiving
        computers.
     
        confusingly, some files produced by wordprocessors, and
        rich text files, are actually binary files because they
        contain non-printable characters and require special programs
        to view, edit, and print them.
     
        2002-01-19
     
     
see also:
binary text file ascii operating systems machine language executable 
cpu endian protocols electronic mail mime 
ftp wordprocessors rich text 

Binary File >> B Words
Binary File, definition of term: Binary File
binary+file_pag1.html

Binary >> B Words
Binary, definition of term: Binary
binary_pag1.html

File >> F Words
File, definition of term: File
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File Server >> F Words
File Server, definition of term: File Server
file+server_pag1.html

File Extension >> F Words
File Extension, definition of term: File Extension
file+extension_pag1.html

File Compressio >> F Words
File Compressio, definition of term: File Compressio
file+compressio_pag1.html

File System >> F Words
File System, definition of term: File System
file+system_pag1.html

File Cabinet >> F Words
File Cabinet, definition of term: File Cabinet
file+cabinet_pag1.html

Binary Code >> B Words
Binary Code, definition of term: Binary Code
binary+code_pag1.html

Binary Compound >> B Words
Binary Compound, definition of term: Binary Compound
binary+compound_pag1.html

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