PE FILE Meaning and
Definition
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A PE file, short for Portable Executable file, is a binary file format commonly used in Windows operating systems to store executable programs, dynamic-link libraries (DLLs), device drivers, and other types of executable code. It is the standard file format for executable files in Windows and is capable of running directly on the Windows platform.
A PE file consists of several different sections or headers that provide various information about the executable. These include the DOS header, which allows the file to be recognized by DOS-based systems, the PE signature, which verifies the file's integrity, and the COFF (Common Object File Format) header, which contains important details about the file's structure.
The file also contains various sections such as the code section, which contains the actual instructions executed by the computer, the data section, which stores initialized data, and the import and export tables, which hold information about functions and libraries used by the executable.
PE files are highly modular, allowing for easy modification and extension. They can be analyzed and edited using specialized software tools, making them a valuable resource for software developers and security researchers. Additionally, they can be subject to analysis by antivirus programs to detect and eliminate potentially harmful code.
Common Misspellings for PE FILE
- xe file
- p file
- oe file
- le file
- 0e file
- pw file
- ps file
- pd file
- pr file
- p4 file
- p3 file
- pe dile
- pe cile
- pe vile
- pe gile
- pe tile
- pe rile
- pe fule
- pe fjle
- pe fkle
Etymology of PE FILE
The term "PE file" stands for "Portable Executable file". The etymology of the word can be broken down as follows:
1. Portable: In this context, portable refers to the file format's ability to be executed on different platforms or operating systems. It is derived from the Latin word "portare", meaning "to carry".
2. Executable: It refers to a type of file that contains instructions in machine code that can be executed directly by a computer's processor. The word "executable" originates from the Latin word "exsequi", meaning "to carry out" or "to follow through".
Therefore, the term "PE file" combines these two words to describe a file format that can be carried or executed on various platforms. The Portable Executable (PE) file format is the standard executable file format used by Microsoft Windows operating systems.
