What is WebAssembly?

WebAssembly (WASM) is a portable, size- and load-time-efficient format designed as a compilation target for programming languages. It enables high-performance applications to run in browsers and beyond, revolutionizing how we build modern software.

Core Concept

WASM is a binary instruction format that can run in modern web browsers and standalone runtimes. It's designed to be fast to load and execute with near-native performance.

Use Cases

WebAssembly powers 3D rendering, cryptography, scientific computing, game development, and increasingly runs desktop apps in browsers.

Technical Ecosystem

Tech Ecosystem Visualization

This visualization depicts the relationship between Web3, AI, Quantum, and GreenTech ecosystems. Click nodes to explore intersections.

Sample WASM Integration


// C function compiled to wasm
int add(int a, int b) {
    return a + b;
}

// JavaScript binding
fetch('add.wasm')
    .then(response =>
        response.arrayBuffer()
    )
    .then(bytes =>
        WebAssembly.instantiate(bytes, {})
    )
    .then(results => {
        const add = results.instance.exports._add;
        console.log(add(3, 4)); // Output: 7
    });

This shows how traditional languages can be compiled to WASM and executed in modern JavaScript environments.

FAQ

What web browsers support WebAssembly?

All major web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) natively support WebAssembly. WASM is also supported in standalone runtimes like Wasmtime.

How does WASM compare to JavaScript?

WebAssembly is designed to run at native speed, making it ideal for compute-heavy tasks. JavaScript is excellent for dynamic UIs and glue code. They often work together in applications.

Can I convert existing code to WASM?

Yes! You can compile C/C++/Rust/Rust to WASM using tools like Emscripten, Rust's wasm-pack, or the WebAssembly System Interface (WASI) for standalone applications.

Ready to Dive In?

  • Experiment with WASM in your browser
  • Learn how to compile Rust to WASM
  • Explore WASM toolchains and runtimes
🛠 Explore Tooling

Try this in your browser

Open this WebAssembly playground to experiment with C/C++/Rust code that auto-converts to WASM format.