decompiled
Binary made readable
Decompiled describes software that has been reverse-engineered from executable code back into human-readable source code.
A decompiled program reveals its underlying logic, though often imperfectly—variable names and comments are typically lost in compilation.
The security researcher examined the decompiled malware to understand how it worked.
Separating into components
- reverse-engineeredAnalyzed to recreate design
- bytecodeCompiled platform-neutral instructions
- machine-codeProcessor-executable binary instructions
- assemblyConstructing from components
executable · binary · debugger · static-analysis · disassembler · firmware · pseudocode · reconstruction
Works or serves purposes
- variablesChangeable elements in equations
- subroutinesReusable program segments
- algorithmFinite problem-solving procedure
- logicScience of valid reasoning
structure · stack · registers · mnemonics · hexadecimal · symbols · strings · branches
Abstract, not detailed
- low-levelLacking rank or advancement
- readableEasy to understand
- human-readableInterpretable by people
- pseudocodeInformal algorithm representation
intermediate · original · reconstructed · recovered · extracted · converted · transformed · interpreted
disassembly
Separating into components
- reverse-engineeredAnalyzed to recreate design
- bytecodeCompiled platform-neutral instructions
- machine-codeProcessor-executable binary instructions
assembly · executable · binary · debugger · static-analysis · disassembler · firmware · pseudocode · reconstruction · obfuscated
functions
Works or serves purposes
- variablesChangeable elements in equations
- subroutinesReusable program segments
- algorithmFinite problem-solving procedure
logic · structure · stack · registers · mnemonics · hexadecimal · symbols · strings · branches · loops
high-level
Abstract, not detailed
- low-levelLacking rank or advancement
- readableEasy to understand
- human-readableInterpretable by people
pseudocode · intermediate · original · reconstructed · recovered · extracted · converted · transformed · interpreted · representation
decompiledcompiled
Gathered and arranged
built · assembled · linked · interpreted