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Binary recompiler

Compiler transforming or optimizing already-compiled code

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
1 min read
Source updated November 3, 2025

A binary recompiler is a compiler that takes executable binary files as input, analyzes their structure, applies transformations and optimizations, and outputs new optimized executable binaries.

The foundation to the concepts of binary recompilation were laid out by Gary Kildall with the development of the optimizing assembly code translator XLT86 in 1981.

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This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Binary recompiler”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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Related topics

Binary optimizer

A binary optimizer, also known as an object code optimizer, takes a program's object code or machine code either from a linked executable binary file, or from live program memory, and produces sections of optimized code, invoked through either redirection or code replacement, that is functionally equivalent yet more performant. Program speedup is a common optimization goal.

Binary translation

In computing, binary translation is a form of binary recompilation where sequences of instructions are translated from a source instruction set to a target instruction set with respect to the operating system for which the binary was compiled. In some cases, such as instruction set simulation, the target instruction set may be the same as the source instruction set, providing testing and debugging features such as instruction tracing, conditional breakpoints and hot spot detection.

Decompiler

A decompiler is a computer program that translates an executable file back into high-level source code. Unlike a compiler, which converts high-level code into machine code, a decompiler performs the reverse process.