Native Code

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What Does Native Code Mean?

Native code refers to programming code that is configured to run on a specific processor. Native code will generally not function if used on a processor other than the one it was specifically written for unless it is allowed to run over an emulator.

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Techopedia Explains Native Code

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.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology expert

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.