binfmt_misc is a Linux kernel component that allows it to run foreign executables directly (Windows, Java, …)
binfmt_misc is a component of the Linux kernel that allows user-space programs to be registered as handlers for extra file formats. For example, wine wine can be registered for Windows executables, java java for Java bytecode executable, etc.
If available, the binfmt facility is exposed through /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc (the normal mount point for the special binfmt_misc filesystem).
Most distributions for non-embedded Linux system activate binfmt_misc, usually as a kernel module. Handlers can be registered by writing to /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc/register, or with distribution-provided tools such as update-binfmts and the /var/lib/binfmts directory on Debian and derivatives (including Ubuntu).
