Source Code vs Object Code:
Source Code:
- Source code is written by a programmer using a high-level programming language such as C++, Java, Python, etc.
- It is human-readable and understandable as it consists of statements and instructions written in a specific programming language.
- Source code is usually saved in text files with common extensions like .c, .java, .py, etc.
- It needs to be compiled or interpreted to convert it into machine-readable object code.
Object Code:
- Object code is the output generated after compiling the source code using a compiler or interpreter.
- It is in machine-readable binary format, which is not human-readable.
- Object code is specific to the target platform or architecture for which it is compiled.
- It can be directly executed by the computer's processor.

Main Differences:
1. Readability:
Source code is human-readable, while object code is machine-readable.
2. Format:
Source code is in the form of text files with programming language syntax, while object code is in binary format.
3. Conversion:
Source code needs to be compiled or interpreted to generate object code.
4. Platform Dependency:
Object code is specific to the target platform or architecture.
5. Execution:
Source code cannot be directly executed, while object code can be executed by the computer's processor.
In conclusion, source code is the original code written by a programmer, whereas object code is the compiled output that can be executed by the computer. Understanding the differences between the two is essential for software development and debugging processes.