title: Where is the difference between "binaries" and "executables" in the context of an executable program?
body: <p>I often see the terms "binary" and "executable" seemingly used interchangeably for the same thing.</p>
  
  <p>Ain´t it two terms to describe the exact same thing; The executable output program after a compilation process, which I can run on the terminal?</p>
  
  <p>What do strengthen my assumption, that these two things shall be the same is also, that it is a common practice to provide a <code>bin</code> folder ("bin" as abbreviation for "binaries") inside the installation folders of an application, to store the executable files in, which users are be able to run.</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>I have read the question and answers of <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/31126109/whats-the-difference-between-binary-and-executable-files-mentioned-in-ndisasms">What&#39;s the difference between binary and executable files mentioned in ndisasm&#39;s manual?</a> but the question and their answer are more focused on the respective environments of Clang and ndisasm.</p>
  
  <p>I´ve also read the question and the answers of <a href="https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/121224/what-are-binaries">https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/121224/what-are-binaries</a> at the Software Engineering forum, but also here no distinction between an executable and a binary; only what the term of "binary" in general can refer to:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>But, in <strong>Computing</strong>, Binary refers to :</p>
    
    <ul>
    <li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_file" rel="noreferrer">Binary file</a>, composed of something other than human-readable text</li>
    <li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executable" rel="noreferrer">Executable</a>, a type of binary file that contains machine code for the computer to execute</li>
    <li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_code" rel="noreferrer">Binary code</a>, the digital representation of text and data</li>
    </ul>
    
    <p>[Source: <a href="https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/a/121235/349225]">https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/a/121235/349225]</a></p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>where, in the context of the output program of a compilation process, a binary was referred to as the same as an executable, as well as:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>The word <em>binaries</em> is used as a set of files which are produced <em>after compiling</em> essentially the object code that runs on machines. (and virtual machines/runtimes in case of Java/.NET) </p>
    
    <p>[Source: <a href="https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/a/121234/349225">https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/a/121234/349225</a>
    ] </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>where it was referred to the same.</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <ul>
  <li>What is the difference between "binaries" and "executables" in the context of an executable program?</li>
  <li>Where is the distinction?</li>
  </ul>