What is Bytecode?

Question

What is Bytecode?

Accepted Answer

Bytecode is the low-level, platform-independent intermediate code compiled from high-level programming languages like Solidity, which is then executed by a virtual machine, such as the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), to power smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) on a blockchain. This compact, non-human-readable instruction set is the final deployed form of a smart contract, dictating its logic and state transitions on the distributed ledger.

Bytecode

What is Bytecode?

What is the fundamental role of Bytecode in the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and smart contract execution?

How does the compilation process transform human-readable Solidity code into non-human-readable Bytecode, and what are the security implications?

How is Bytecode utilized in other major blockchain platforms and virtual machines beyond the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)?

Why is the analysis and reverse-engineering of Bytecode a critical practice in blockchain security and auditing?

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