Why is object code important in programming?

Object code is critical in programming because it represents the executable form of a program that the CPU can understand and execute directly. This code is generated after the original source code, which is written in a high-level programming language, is processed by a compiler or assembler. The transformation from high-level code to object code simplifies the complexities of the programming language into a format that the computer's hardware can interpret and act upon.

In this context, the object code is essential for the execution of applications because it consists of machine-level instructions that are specific to the architecture of the CPU. This means that once the original code is compiled into object code, it can be run on the target machine without further manipulation, allowing for efficient execution of programs.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of object code's significance. While the original source code is indeed important, it is not the form that the CPU utilizes. Documentation serves different purposes, focusing on clarifying how code works rather than being tied to its executable form, and object code does not exclusively contain high-level language code, as it typically consists of lower-level instructions suitable for execution.