ausführbare

Ausführbare is the flektierte Form of the German adjective ausführbar, meaning capable of being executed or carried out. In information technology, it denotes something that a computer can run directly. The term is most commonly encountered in the phrase ausführbare Datei, referring to programs that can be loaded and started by an operating system. Such files contain machine code or bytecode that the processor or a runtime environment executes.

File formats and platforms vary. Windows uses the Portable Executable (PE) format with extensions like .exe and .dll, while Linux and other Unix-like systems use the Executable and Linkable Format (ELF). Even interpreted languages can be associated with ausführbare files if they are invoked by a specific interpreter or wrapped with a script header to be started directly by the system.

Among its technical nuances, the concept of executability also depends on permissions. On Unix-like systems, a file must have the executable bit set (the x permission) to be runnable directly. On Windows, the file type and associated program typically determine executability.

Security considerations are central: executable files can contain malicious code. Verification through trusted sources, digital signatures, and up-to-date security tools is advisable before running them.

Beyond files and programs, the adjective ausführbar can describe anything that can be executed or implemented, such as steps in a plan or actions that can be carried out without further intervention.