Difference Between Source Code and Object Code

Key Difference – Source Code vs Object Code
 

A software is a collection of programs. A program is a set of instructions given to a computer to perform a specific task. Their instructions are written by a programmer using a programming language. Therefore, developing a software meaning developing a set of programs. The activity of writing programs is known as programming. The process that is followed to develop a complete software is called Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). The steps involved in SDLC gives an understanding of the source code and object code. This article discusses the difference between source code and object code. The key difference between the Source Code and Object Code is that the Source Code is a collection of computer instructions written using a human-readable programming language while Object Code is a sequence of statements in machine language, and is the output after the compiler or an assembler converts the Source Code.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Source Code
3. What is Object Code
4. Similarities Between Source Code and Object Code
5. Side by Side Comparison – Source Code vs Object Code in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Source Code?

Before developing the software, there should be an understanding of the requirement. The analysts get the user’s required functionalities and document them. This document is System Requirement Specification (SRS).  It provides descriptive documentation of the required functionalities. Based on that document, the system is designed. System designing can be done using flow charts, Data Flow Diagrams (DFD). The outputs of design phase can be database design, process design etc. After the design phase is completed, those designs can be implemented using a relevant programming language by a programmer.

The are many programming languages. Some of them are C, C#, C++, C#, and Python. The programmer can select the programming language according to the software project and convert the designs to computer programs. The instructions are written to achieve the functionalities of the required software using the programming language. Those instructions have a syntax similar to English language and readable by a human. This collection of instructions written using a human-readable programming language is called the Source Code.

What is Object Code?

Source Code is understandable by humans because it has a syntax similar to the English language. It is not understandable by a computer or a machine. Computers or machines understand the binary language that consists of zeros and once. Therefore, it is necessary to convert the Source Code into machine-understandable form. The compiler or an assembler converts the Source Code into binary language or machine language. This converted code is known as the Object Code. It is understandable by the computer. Finally, the instructions given by the human is understandable by the computer.

What is the Similarity Between Source Code and Object Code?

• Both are related to computer programming.

What is the Difference Between Source Code and Object Code?

Summary – Source Code vs Object Code 

Computer Programs are useful to provide instructions to the computer to perform a specific task. These programs are written using programming languages. There are many programming languages, and the programmer can select a language to develop programs or software. Source Code and Object Code are two terms associated with programming. The difference between the Source Code and Object Code is that Source Code is a collection of computer instructions written using a human-readable programming language while Object Code is a sequence of statements in machine language, and is the output after the compiler or an assembler converts the Source Code.

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Reference:

1.“Difference Between Source Code and Object Code.” Learn programming. Available here 
2.vshahnavaz. Source Code & Object Code, VShahnavaz, 3 Dec. 2014. Available here 
3.“Object code.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Jan. 2018. Available here 
4.“Source code.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Jan. 2018. Available here  

Image Courtesy:

1.’Source code in C’By Romainhk – Own work, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia