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Source package include a tarball of the application's source code, and instructions on building it. When you install the package, it builds and compiles everything on-site, then installs. Binary packages have everything already built, and installing the package just takes everything out of it.
Binaries: .exe extension, previously compiled source code. These are compiled, don't need to compile anymore. Installer: assists with the correct installation and setup of the binaries (software). This contains binaries, but also additional resources.
When referring to a download or program, binaries are compiled code that allow a program to be installed without having to compile the source code. Many open source programs offer downloads in source format. This format allows users to view the code, but also requires the code to be compiled or in binaries format.
A source release will be compiled on your own machine while a binary release must match your operating system.
source releases are more common on linux systems because linux systems can dramatically vary in cpu, installed library versions, kernelversions and nearly every linux system has a compiler installed.
binary releases are common on ms-windows systems. most windows machines do not have a compiler installed.
Binary releases contain computer readable version of the application, meaning it is compiled. Source releases contain human readable version of the application, meaning it has to be compiled before it can be used.
The source release is the raw, uncompiled code. You could read it yourself. To use it, it must be compiled on your machine. Binary means the code was compiled into a machine language format that the computer can read, then execute. No human can understand the binary file unless its been dissected, or opened with some program that let's you read the executable as code.
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