execut

Execut is not a standard term in computing. In most reference works, the word is treated as a misspelling or truncation of more established terms such as exec, executable, or execution. Consequently, there is no widely recognized definition of “execut” as a distinct concept, feature, or API.

The closest established terms are:

- Exec: short for execute or the exec family of system calls in Unix-like operating systems (for example, execl, execv, execve). These calls replace the current process image with a new program, transferring control entirely to the new executable.

- Executable: a file that contains binary code or bytecode that the operating system can load and run. Executables are typically platform dependent and may require appropriate permissions to execute.

- Execution: the act of running a program or code, during which the processor interprets instructions and performs operations.

Other uses of the root concept include:

- In programming languages, the term exec often appears as a function or command that evaluates or runs dynamically generated code (for example, a function named exec in some languages).

- In shell environments, certain commands may perform replacement of the current process (sometimes labeled as exec).

Etymology and usage notes:

Execut is most plausibly a derivative of the verb “execute,” but it is not established as a formal term. Writers and documentation typically prefer exec, executable, or execution to avoid ambiguity.

See also: exec, executable, execution, system call, loader.