Definition: bytecode

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Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (2003-OCT-10) 

byte-code

   <file format, software> A binary file containing an
   executable program, formed by a sequence of op code/data
   pairs.

   Byte-code op codes are most often fixed size binary patterns,
   but can be variable size.  The data portion consists of zero
   or more bits, the format of the data portion may be
   determined by the identifier.  The data is most often variable
   in size.

   In some cases, by clever design, (e.g. some RISC
   instruction sets) the identifier/data pair is a fixed size.
   This can provide performance benefits.

   A byte-code program is normally interpreted by a byte-code
   interpreter.  The advantage of this technique compared with
   outputing machine code for a particular processor is that
   the same byte-code can be executed on any processor on which
   the byte-code interpreter runs.  The byte-code may be compiled
   to machine code ("native code") for speed of execution but
   this usually requires significantly greater effort for each
   new taraget architecture than simply porting the interpreter.

   For example, Java is compiled to byte-code which runs on the
   Java Virtual Machine.

   (1998-08-30)