A .pyc file is a compiled bytecode file created by the Python interpreter. When a Python script (.py file) is executed, the interpreter first compiles it into bytecode, which is a lower-level, platform-independent representation of the code. This bytecode is then executed by the Python Virtual Machine (PVM). The .pyc file stores this compiled bytecode, allowing the interpreter to skip the compilation step on subsequent executions of the same script, provided the source code hasn't changed. This speeds up the execution process, especially for larger projects with many modules. The .pyc files are automatically generated when a Python script is imported as a module. They are typically stored in a __pycache__ directory within the same directory as the source code. While .pyc files are not directly human-readable, they are essential for the efficient execution of Python programs. They are platform-independent, meaning a .pyc file generated on one operating system can be executed on another, as long as both systems have a compatible Python interpreter.