Reverse Engineering
Systematic analysis of an existing binary, protocol, file format or program behavior to infer structure, semantics and implementation constraints.
Static and Dynamic Views
Reverse engineering can combine disassembly/decompilation, strings and file-format inspection with debugging, tracing, packet analysis and controlled execution.
No single representation is the ground truth. Compiler optimization can make decompiled code structurally different from the original source even when behavior is preserved.
Evidence Discipline
In forensic or interoperability work, observed behavior should be separated from assumptions. Inputs, outputs, binary hashes, tool versions and test conditions make conclusions more reproducible.
The objective may be understanding compatibility, recovering a format or investigating behavior; authorization and legal constraints still apply.