photons are not the only thing in the universe that is coded of course. it take mass to interface with photons to actually exist in reality and it takes mass in contact with photons to make them apparent and exist too.

Although photons are pure code that also leads to the conclusion that mass also can be pure code reflexively.  we cannot detect photons or start to measure them in any way with out mater.  We cant detect mater without photons or electro magnetic disturbance energy as per feeling and touch senses. Of course photons are merely light disrupted into space electromagnetic signals and in mass electromagnetic disturbance signals are also photons except we call them dark energy because unlike light in space or though space they are not necessarily visible  but they transmit real code at short distances and longer ones.