WebAssembly (Wasm) and WebAssembly System Interface (WASI) are complementary technologies that together allow running code in a sandboxed environment across different platforms. Here's a breakdown of each: **WebAssembly (Wasm):** * Defines a portable and efficient instruction set format specifically designed for execution within web browsers. * Code written in various languages like C++, Rust, or even Go (using compilers like TinyGo) can be compiled into Wasm modules. * Wasm offers several benefits for web development, including: * Improved performance compared to traditional JavaScript. * Smaller code size for faster loading times. * Enables development with languages beyond JavaScript. **WebAssembly System Interface (WASI):** * Provides a standardized set of APIs for Wasm modules to interact with various system resources. * WASI is not specific to web browsers and allows Wasm modules to run in different environments beyond web pages. * Common functionalities exposed by WASI APIs include: * File system access * Environment variables * Clocks and random number generators **Together, Wasm and WASI offer several advantages:** * **Portability:** Wasm modules can run on any platform that supports a Wasm runtime, regardless of the original programming language. * **Security:** Wasm modules are executed in a sandboxed environment, restricting their access to system resources and enhancing security. * **Performance:** Wasm offers efficient execution, improving the performance of code compared to traditional web technologies.