GlossaryAdvanced
Virtual Machine
The software environment that runs smart contract code consistently across a network.
A blockchain virtual machine is the standardized software environment that executes smart contract code, ensuring that every node running compatible software processes that code the exact same way.
This consistency is essential: since every node independently verifies smart contract execution, they all need to reach the same result from the same code and inputs.
Examples
- The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is widely used, and several other networks have built compatibility with it.
- A smart contract's behavior is ultimately defined by how the virtual machine executes its code.