WebAssembly runtime
A WebAssembly runtime is software that loads, instantiates, and executes WebAssembly modules while providing execution services and mediating access to host resources.
Server-Side WebAssembly
A Wasm or WebAssembly runtime is software that loads and executes WebAssembly modules while mediating access to host resources and system interactions.
- How it is used
- Hosts server-side Wasm modules and mediates their controlled interaction with operating-system resources through WASI.
- How deep it goes
- Explains the host boundary, capabilities, WASI, container comparison, and a custom-runtime exercise; defers richer interfaces to WIT.
- Examples
- Uses a Rust Hello, World module run through a custom runtime and diagrams contrasting Wasm and Docker execution layers.
- What you can do after
- Evaluate/understand how a runtime hosts modules, exposes capabilities, and differs architecturally from a container engine.
Read how Server-Side WebAssembly explains WebAssembly runtime →
Refactoring to Rust
A WebAssembly runtime is software that loads, instantiates, and executes WebAssembly modules.
- How it is used
- Uses WASI to run interchangeable WebAssembly libraries outside browser JavaScript and connect them to host applications.
- How deep it goes
- Explains interpretation, host interfaces, sandboxed memory, and allocation functions, but does not detail runtime implementation internals.
- Examples
- Demonstrates WasmEdge installation, hello.wasm testing, and a command-line search application consuming Wasm.
- What you can do after
- Operate/configure WasmEdge to consume WebAssembly modules through a WASI-compatible runtime.
Related concepts
- Wasmtimeincludes · Wasmtime is a standalone WebAssembly runtime for executing modules with controlled access to host system resources.
- WASIimplements · WASI, the WebAssembly System Interface, is a standardized collection of interfaces that enables WebAssembly programs to access operating-system-like resources portably.
- WasmEdgeincludes · WasmEdge is an open-source WebAssembly runtime that provides tooling and software-development kits for running and developing WebAssembly applications.
- containerd-shimused by · containerd-shim is a helper process that connects containerd to a running container and manages container lifecycle and I/O after the parent runtime exits.
- WebAssembly moduleuses · A WebAssembly module is a compiled, self-contained unit of WebAssembly code and associated definitions that a compatible host can instantiate and execute.
- Akkapart of · Akka is an open-source toolkit for building concurrent, distributed, and resilient applications on the JVM using actor-based abstractions.
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