Machine code is characterized by which type of system?

Machine code is characterized by a low-level binary system because it consists of the fundamental instructions that a computer's central processing unit (CPU) understands directly. This code is composed of binary digits (0s and 1s) that represent various operations, data types, and memory addresses, allowing the CPU to execute tasks efficiently. Machine code operates at the closest level to the hardware, making it essential for performance-critical applications and system processes.

In contrast, written instructions refer to higher-level programming and scripting that require translation into machine code for execution. High-level programming languages are abstractions that simplify coding by using more intuitive symbols and syntax, which must ultimately be compiled or interpreted down into machine code. A graphical user interface provides a visual means for users to interact with the computer system, further removed from the actual binary instructions that the CPU processes.