Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Glossary

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WebAssembly

1 min read
Pronunciation
[web-uh-ssem-blee]
Analogy
WASM is like a universal bytecode that runs in any modern browser or blockchain VM, similar to Java bytecode on the JVM.
Definition
A portable, low‑level binary instruction format for a stack‑based virtual machine, designed for safe, fast execution in web browsers and other environments.
Key Points Intro
WebAssembly offers:
Key Points

Portability: Runs on any WASM‑enabled runtime.

Performance: Near‑native execution speed.

Security: Sandboxed with linear memory.

Language support: Compile C, Rust, Go, and more.

Example
Polkadot parachains use WASM to execute runtime logic deterministically across nodes.
Technical Deep Dive
WASM modules consist of sections: type, import, function, memory, export. The runtime validates bytecode, compiles to machine code via JIT or AOT, and enforces linear memory bounds. The spec defines host bindings for system interfaces.
Security Warning
Unchecked host functions can break sandbox; ensure capability‑based security.
Caveat
Larger binary size than optimized native code can impact load times.
Related Terms
EVM
Rust
Parachain

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