What term describes the act of carrying out a program's instructions after compiling it?

The term that describes the act of carrying out a program's instructions after compiling it is "executing." When a program is compiled, it is transformed from source code (which is human-readable) into machine code (which the computer understands). Executing the program means that the computer is now performing the tasks and operations dictated by that machine code. The execution phase takes the compiled instructions and runs them, resulting in the functioning of the software as intended.

In the context of computer programming, this is the critical step that brings a program to life, enabling users to experience the outcomes of the code written by developers. Execution is essential in verifying that the compiled code works correctly and produces the desired results when run in a computer environment.