A binary file is a file that is stored in binary format, a format for representing data used in certain applications. Unlike a text file, such as an ASCII file, a binary file contains more than plain text. Binary files may contain additional digital or audio information, spreadsheet information, software, or word-processing text that has been formatted. Like an ASCII file, a binary file is comprised of symbols that represent ones and zeros.

A binary file is readable, and can be interpreted by a computer program or hardware processor. The format of the data must be known in advance by the program or processor in order to make use of the file. A binary file is intended for a machine, and cannot be read by a human. All executable programs, those which specify an action, are stored in binary files (and are given a file name...