1. Executable code, especially a "pure code" portion shared between multiple instances of a program running in a multitaskingoperating system. Compare English. 2. Textual material in the mainstream sense data in ordinary ASCII or EBCDIC representation (see flat ASCII). "Those are text files you can review them using the editor." These two contradictory senses confuse hackers too. [JarGon File] (1995-03-16)