Clear DefinitionsWASM
1 min read
Pronunciation
[waz-um]
Analogy
WASM is like shipping compiled code in a universal container that runs anywhere with a WASM runtime.
Definition
Abbreviation for WebAssembly, the binary instruction format for portable, sandboxed execution.
Key Points Intro
WASM characteristics include:
Key Points
Binary format: Compact and fast to parse.
Stack‑based VM: Executes instructions deterministically.
Modularity: Supports multiple linear memories and tables.
Host interfaces: Import/export functions for integration.
Example
NEAR Protocol smart contracts compile to WASM, enabling developers to write in Rust or AssemblyScript.
Technical Deep Dive
WASM uses a structured control flow with blocks, loops, and ifs. The validation step enforces well‑formedness. Runtimes implement a memory model with pages of 64 KiB and a table for function references.
Security Warning
Out-of-bounds memory access is trapped, but logic bugs in contract code still apply.
Caveat
Debugging WASM can be harder than source languages without proper tooling.
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