WASI, which stands for WebAssembly System Interface, is a standardized API (Application Programming Interface) that aims to provide a portable, secure, and efficient execution environment for WebAssembly modules. WebAssembly itself is a binary instruction format designed for running high-performance applications on the web. WASI expands on WebAssembly's capabilities by offering a system interface, enabling WebAssembly modules to interact with the underlying operating system and its services.
As a dictionary definition, WASI can be described as a set of specifications that outline a consistent way for WebAssembly applications to access system-level functionality across different platforms, such as file system access, network communication, and other crucial services. It abstracts away the differences between various operating systems, making it possible to run WebAssembly code reliably and consistently on different devices and environments.
WASI presents a secure execution environment by providing a sandboxed environment, isolating WebAssembly modules from accessing sensitive system resources and allowing controlled interactions with the operating system. This helps prevent malicious code from compromising the host system.
Moreover, WASI focuses on achieving high performance by minimizing unnecessary overhead and providing direct access to system services wherever required. It enables efficient execution of WebAssembly applications, making them closer in performance to natively compiled binaries.
Overall, WASI plays a significant role in enabling interoperability, security, and performance in the deployment of WebAssembly applications across a wide range of systems and platforms.
