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Summary

Name Windows Portable Executable
Version 64 bit
Other names Common Object File Format, COFF, EXE
Identifiers MIME:  application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable
Apple Uniform Type Identifier:  com.microsoft.windows-executable
PUID:  fmt/900
Family  
Classification  
Disclosure  
Description A Windows Portable Executable (PE) 64-bit is synonymous with a program or application that can potentially be run on Microsoft Windows. An executable is a file-format object that is compiled from source code files written in languages such as C, C++, Golang, or Rust among others. A PE is native to Windows and like other executables or programs, provided a means of distributing applications that performed a certain task or tasks for a specific operating system. Executables are compiled to a certain register width, e.g. 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit or 64-bit; which impacts the size of variables in memory, and may impact compatibilty on older or newer versions of an operating system, respectively. A PE 64-bit is compiled to a 64-bit architecture and so will not run on 32-bit architectures or less. Executables might require external libraries or configuration to function and so the technical environment needed to run an executable should be documented and understood in order to preserve functionality over time and to protect future potential users of these files. The Windows Portable Executable format is used for the 'executable' component of a program, as well as external libraries such as dynamic link libraries (DLLs) other potential extensions are listed as '.acm, .ax, .cpl, .dll, .drv, .efi, .exe, .mui, .ocx, .scr, .sys, .tsp, .mun') (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portable_Executable&oldid=1182679182). Despite the name, PE files will not run on other operating systems such as MacOS and Linux. Application programs must be compiled to a specific operating system architecture to run on different environments.
Orientation  
Byte order  
Related file formats Has priority over MS-DOS Executable  
Has priority over Windows New Executable  
Has priority over Windows Portable Executable  
Technical Environment  
Released  
Supported until  
Format Risk  
Developed by Microsoft Corporation
Supported by Microsoft Corporation
Source Archives New Zealand / Archives New Zealand
Source date 21 Jun 2016
Source description 04/2024 (v.118): Description added as part of PRONOM Research Week 2023. Submitted by Ross Spencer.
Last updated 22 Apr 2024
Note This specification describes the structure of executable (image) files and object files under the Windows family of operating systems. These files are referred to as Portable Executable (PE) and Common Object File Format (COFF) files, respectively- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/debug/pe-format
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