---
title: "Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL)"  
description: "Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) is a language used as the output of a number of compilers(C#, VB, .Net, and so forth). The ILDasm (Intermediate"  
author: "Anonymous User"  
published: 2010-10-07  
updated: 2014-09-18  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/16/microsoft-intermediate-language-msil  
category: ".net"  
tags: [".net"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL)

##

[Microsoft](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/12301/microsoft-is-trying-to-kill-passwords) Intermediate Language (MSIL) is a language used as the output of a number of compilers(C#, VB, .Net, and so forth). The ILDasm (Intermediate Language Disassembler) program that ships with the .Net [Framework](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/34615/software-framework-vs-library) SDK allows the user to see MSIL code in human readable format.

When compiling to [manage code](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/115277/how-does-version-control-software-help-developers-manage-code-changes-and-team-collaboration), the compiler translates your [source code](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/33476/pls-send-me-source-code-for-changing-passward-in-asp-dot-net-i-tried-so-much-from-google-but-its-not-workining) into Microsoft intermediate language (MSIL), which is the CPU [independent](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/98599/what-is-the-longest-river-in-the-commonwealth-of-independent-states) set of instructions that can be efficiently converted into native code. MSIL includes instruction for loading, storing, initializing, and calling method on objects, [as well as](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/2481/can-you-write-a-java-class-that-could-be-used-both-as-an-applet-as-well-as-an-application) instructions for arithmetic and logical [operations](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/304985/how-does-devops-bridge-the-gap-between-development-and-operations-teams-like-git), [control flow](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/33772/what-is-the-control-flow-function-and-its-execution-in-control-flow-statements), direct memory access, [exception handling](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/12240/introduction-of-exception-handling), and other operations. Before code can be run, MSIL must be converted to CPU- specific code, usually be JIT – compiled and run on any supported architecture.

---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/16/microsoft-intermediate-language-msil

Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.