An intermediate language that requires a runtime program for execution. For example, the source code of Java and Microsoft's .NET languages is compiled into their particular type of bytecode, which is executed by their runtime engines (see
Java and
.NET Framework). WebAssembly, which can be used instead of JavaScript routines in Web pages, generates bytecode (see
WebAssembly). The Solidity language, which is used to create smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain, generates bytecode (see
Solidity).
Java Bytecode
Java programs are compiled into bytecode, which is translated into machine language at runtime by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). There are JVMs for almost every environment, enabling Java to run in most computers. See
runtime engine.
No Bytecode - No Runtime Engine
In compiled languages such as C/C++, the machine language is executed in the computer. See
C.