Learn ZIG-WASM with Real Code Examples

Zig allows direct compilation to WebAssembly for running low-level code in browsers or servers.

Focuses on safety, performance, and predictable behavior without a garbage collector.

Supports manual memory management and fine-grained control over execution.

Provides interoperability with C and other languages, making it versatile for Wasm projects.

Ideal for system-level code, games, and performance-critical web applications.

Compile-time code execution for optimization

Error handling without exceptions

Explicit memory control for performance-critical modules

Cross-compilation support including Wasm targets

Lightweight standard library suitable for Wasm

Compile-time execution – code runs at compile time for optimization

Manual memory management – allocate/free memory explicitly

Error unions – lightweight error handling mechanism

Slices and pointers – low-level data structures for Wasm

Exported functions – callable from JavaScript

src/ - Zig source files

build.zig - optional build script

out/ - compiled WebAssembly output

tests/ - unit tests for Zig modules

examples/ - sample usage of Zig-Wasm modules

Write Zig module with logic or algorithms

Compile to WebAssembly target

Export functions via `export` keyword

Load Wasm module in browser or Wasm runtime

Call functions from JS or another host environment

Beginner: compile simple arithmetic functions to Wasm

Intermediate: create a small library usable in JS

Advanced: optimize algorithms for performance in Wasm

Expert: integrate Zig-Wasm with C libraries or WASI

Auditor: profile memory and CPU usage in browser Wasm

Zig-Wasm vs Rust-Wasm: Zig is lower-level, simpler, no borrow checker; Rust has stronger type safety and ecosystem

Zig-Wasm vs C/C++-Wasm: Zig safer syntax, modern compiler, easier cross-compilation

Zig-Wasm vs AssemblyScript: Zig offers manual memory control and system-level features; AssemblyScript is TS-like with GC

Zig-Wasm vs Go-Wasm: Zig has smaller runtime and more predictable memory behavior

Zig-Wasm vs TinyGo: Zig focuses on performance and low-level control, TinyGo targets small Go programs to Wasm

2015 – Zig project started by Andrew Kelley

2016–2019 – Early compiler iterations and language evolution

2020 – WebAssembly target support added

2022 – Improved safety checks, error handling, and cross-compilation

2025 – Optimizations for Wasm size and performance, broader community adoption

Wasm - WebAssembly binary format

WASI - WebAssembly System Interface

Export - function made callable from JS

Slice - a pointer + length in Zig

Error union - Zig’s lightweight error handling type