The Motorola S-Record file format, often shortened to SREC, is a text-based format for conveying binary data. It's primarily used to transfer program code or data to microcontrollers, embedded systems, and programmable logic devices. Each line in an SREC file represents a record containing a hexadecimal representation of the data, along with address information and a checksum for error detection. The format is designed to be easily parsed and processed by embedded system programming tools. S-records are commonly used in the development and manufacturing processes of embedded systems, where firmware or configuration data needs to be loaded into the device's memory. The format's simplicity and readability make it a popular choice for transferring data in environments where binary files might be problematic or less convenient to handle. The checksum ensures data integrity during transmission, reducing the risk of corrupted code being loaded onto the target device. S-records are also used in some ROM emulators and debugging tools.