Bytecodelike

Bytecodelike is a descriptive term used in computer science to refer to a class of intermediate representations that resemble traditional bytecode. The phrase is not a formal standard; its precise meaning depends on the project, but common traits include a compact, architecture-neutral instruction set, an emphasis on portability, and an execution model suitable for interpretation or just-in-time compilation.

Typically, a bytecodelike IR sits between front-end language compilation and back-end code generation or runtime execution. It often uses a small, well-defined instruction set with explicit operands, supports a type system or tagging scheme, and includes a verification or safety phase before execution. The design aims to balance fast interpretation with opportunities for runtime optimization, such as JIT compilation or ahead-of-time lowering to native code.

Relation to real bytecode: traditional bytecode refers to the concrete instruction set of established virtual machines (for example, JVM or .NET). Bytecodelike IRs, by contrast, describe a class of representations that may be tailored to a specific language or VM and that can vary in encoding, typing, and verification rules. They are typically designed to be easily portable across platforms and easier to analyze for tooling and optimization.

Usage: bytecodelike representations are common in virtual machines and language runtimes, where an intermediate form supports dynamic features, sandboxing, and cross-language interoperability. Although not standardized, the concept appears in documentation and academic contexts to distinguish high-level language semantics from machine code and from fixed bytecode formats.