What happens to a program when it begins to run?

When a program begins to run, it is moved to the CPU's memory, also known as RAM (Random Access Memory). This transition is crucial because the CPU requires quick access to the program's instructions and data during execution. Storing the program in RAM allows the CPU to process it efficiently, as accessing data in memory is significantly faster than retrieving it from storage, such as a hard disk.

When a program is loaded into memory, it becomes an active process that the CPU can execute. This essential step ensures that the program can perform its functions and interact with the user or other software components in real time. After the program is finished or terminated, the memory it occupied can be freed up for other processes, allowing for efficient resource management within the system.

This understanding of program execution is fundamental in computer science, as it illustrates how software interacts with hardware during operation. The other options do not accurately describe what happens to a program during its execution phase. For instance, while compiling a program into machine code is a necessary part of the development process, it occurs prior to running the program and does not happen during execution.