It is a file in a particular format which the system can easily execute or implement. The executable file is of same attributes as of a source file. A different compiler or the assembler has to be used to transform the source file into a useable, executable file. Commonly used executable files in DOS are either com or exe files. The term EXE is generally the term used as the extension to the file name which clearly shows that the particular file is an executable file.

Other than the specific program different EXE files have other components namely resources as bitmaps and the icons. These may be used for the graphical interface. The main difference in the DOS file and the COM file is of the size of the file that is restricted less than 64KB and can only have the code information.

A type of relocation is possible in the DOS header, with this different segments are loaded which can easily support the system larger than 64KB. EXE file have different formats:

16-Bit: it was introduced with MS-DOS4.0 and can be identified by the New Executable file in ASCII. These files have restrictions that these files cannot work on any other DOS versions but can be only actively run on all Windows.

DOS executable: These files can be actively used from DOS and many Windows versions. This file can be identified as MZ after the name of one key person who had developed DOS; Mark Zbikowski.

32-bit Linear Executable: This can effectively run by Operating System/2 2.0 or much higher version. It is identified as LX in ASCII.

32-bit Portable Executable: It is termed as the most complex system in use and is named as PE in ASCII. It can easily run on all the versions of Windows.

Mixed 16/32-bit Linear Executable: It was introduced with OS/2 2.0, and is termed as LE in ASCII. It is not used for the OS/2 applications.

64-bit Portable Executable: It was introduced from the 64-bit version of windows.

The user has to double-click the exe file to open the program; this can be done if it not corrupted. It is mainly used to avoid computer viruses to attack the system. If in case the file which the user receives is an image but the extension of the file shows that it is an EXE file; then the user should not open the file as it is corrupted and having virus.