Glossary
Decompiler
A tool that attempts to reconstruct high-level source code (C, pseudocode) from compiled binary machine code.
A decompiler goes one step further than a disassembler: it attempts to reconstruct high-level pseudocode or C-like source from raw machine instructions. The output is an approximation — variable names, types, and control-flow structures are inferred rather than recovered exactly — but it dramatically speeds up analysis of complex binaries. Ghidra's built-in decompiler and Hex-Rays (IDA Pro plugin) are industry-standard tools. Decompiler accuracy degrades with heavy obfuscation or virtualization obfuscation.