What representation does a processor execute?

The correct representation that a processor executes is machine code. Machine code is a low-level programming language that consists of binary instructions that the processor can directly understand and execute. Each instruction in machine code corresponds to specific operations performed by the hardware, allowing the processor to carry out tasks such as arithmetic calculations, data manipulation, and control operations.

Machine code is the final output of the compilation process and is specific to the architecture of the processor. This means that machine code varies between different types of processors, as each type uses its own set of binary instructions.

Other types of code, such as source code, intermediate code, and assembly code, serve different purposes in programming but require further processing before they can be executed by the processor. Source code is written in high-level programming languages and needs to be compiled or interpreted into machine code. Intermediate code is often a step in the compilation process that serves as a bridge between source code and machine code, allowing further optimization or interpretation. Assembly code is a low-level representation that is closer to machine code; however, it still needs to be assembled into machine code for execution.

Therefore, machine code is the correct answer because it is the only representation that the processor can execute directly without any further translation or processing.