[W/K] :: byte-code

  byte-code
       
           A binary file containing an
          executable program, formed by a sequence of op code/data
          pairs.
       
          Byte-code op codes are most often fixed size binary patterns,
          but can be variable size.  The data portion consists of zero
          or more bits, the format of the data portion may be
          determined by the identifier.  The data is most often variable
          in size.
       
          In some cases, by clever design, (e.g. some RISC
          instruction sets) the identifier/data pair is a fixed size.
          This can provide performance benefits.
       
          A byte-code program is normally interpreted by a byte-code
          interpreter.  The advantage of this technique compared with
          outputing machine code for a particular processor is that
          the same byte-code can be executed on any processor on which
          the byte-code interpreter runs.  The byte-code may be compiled
          to machine code ("native code") for speed of execution but
          this usually requires significantly greater effort for each
          new taraget architecture than simply porting the interpreter.
       
          For example, Java is compiled to byte-code which runs on the
          Java Virtual Machine.
       
          (1998-08-30)