Which type of file is produced from a successful compilation?

When a program successfully compiles, it translates the code written in a high-level programming language (source code) into machine-readable instructions. This process results in an executable file, which is designed to run on a specific operating system. The executable file contains the necessary code that the computer's processor can execute directly.

The concept of an executable file is fundamental in programming because it's the tangible product of the compilation process that allows users to run applications. This file usually has specific extensions depending on the system, such as ".exe" for Windows or specific formats for other operating systems.

While source files and machine code files are important parts of the development process, they are not the final product that can be run directly by the operating system. Source files are the original human-readable code written by the programmer, and machine code files are often intermediary files that represent lower-level code but are not in a format that can be executed by the operating system as a stand-alone application. Additionally, library files are collections of precompiled routines that programs can call upon, which do not represent complete applications to be executed on their own.

Thus, the correct answer reflects the final outcome of a successful compilation process that can be run on a machine, which is an executable file.