Because native code is tailor-made for a specific processor, programs written using such code should (theoretically) run optimally on the native processor. The downside is that such programs will usually be rendered useless when used on a different processor. This limitation has steadily decreased since manufacturers have started configuring their processors to work with the same kind of protocols and logic sequences.

Although a program written on native code can run on a processor it was not originally intended for by using emulation software (which mimics the configuration of the originally intended processor), the program’s performance will generally suffer.