What is LuaJIT written in?
The LuaJIT runtime is written in C.
LuaJIT is a JIT compiler for the Lua programming language, first released in 2005.
Implementation
| Layer | Written in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | C (since 2005) | LuaJIT runtime written in C and assembly by Mike Pall |
Runtime model
The LuaJIT runtime, written in C, manages the execution of LuaJIT programs. Runtime-based languages rely on a host process to interpret or compile code at runtime rather than compiling entirely ahead-of-time to native machine code. This means running LuaJIT programs requires the runtime to be present on the target system.
The choice of C for the runtime gives LuaJIT access to native performance, established platform abstractions, and existing ecosystem libraries.
Explore in the Graph
See LuaJIT's full lineage, including all implementation and influence relationships, in the interactive graph.
Open Interactive Graph →Or view the LuaJIT language page for the complete record.