Exploring WebAssembly (WASM)
Getting Started with WebAssembly
Section Summary
In this section, we’ll explore the fundamentals of WebAssembly and its practical applications:
- WebAssembly Binary Format (WASM)
- Human-readable Text Format (WAT)
- WebAssembly System Interface (WASI)
You’ll build a simple “Hello World” module in C, C++, or Rust, compile it to WASM, and embed it in a web page using the WebAssembly JavaScript API. Hands-on labs will guide you through environment setup, compilation, and execution in both browser and WASI runtimes.
Key Topics
| Topic | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| WebAssembly Binary Format | Compact bytecode optimized for performance | WASM Spec |
| Text Format (WAT) | Readable s-expression syntax that assembles into WASM binary | MDN WAT Guide |
| WebAssembly System Interface | POSIX-like APIs for file I/O and networking in WASI environments | WASI Docs |
| Module Creation & Execution | Compiling from Rust/C/C++ to WASM and running modules locally | wasm-bindgen |
| JavaScript Integration | Loading and calling WASM functions via the WebAssembly JS API | MDN WebAssembly API |
Prerequisites
Make sure you have:
- Node.js (v14 or later)
- Rust/C/C++ toolchain with WebAssembly targets
- A modern browser supporting WASM
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Differentiate between WASM binary and text formats
- Compile and run WebAssembly modules locally and in the browser
- Leverage WASI for system-level interactions
- Embed and interact with WebAssembly modules from JavaScript
Useful Resources
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