C++Written in
2008First released
Lars Bak, Christian Plesner Hansen, and Kasper LundBuilt by
3-clause BSD LicenseLicense
Google JavaScript engine.
What is V8 written in?
V8, Google's JavaScript and WebAssembly engine, is written in C++. It JIT-compiles JavaScript directly to machine code and powers Chrome, Node.js, and Deno.
About V8
V8 is an open-source JavaScript engine developed by Google.
V8 first appeared in 2008. Development is led by Lars Bak, Christian Plesner Hansen, and Kasper Lund.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikidata · Official site
Quick Facts
- Short answer
- V8 is written in C++
- Developer
- Technique
- Tiered JIT to machine code
- Used by
- Chrome, Node.js, Deno, Electron
Why a JavaScript engine is written in C++
JavaScript is a high-level, dynamically typed language, but the engine that runs it needs direct memory control, manual layout of objects, and tight machine-code generation. C++ provides that. V8 parses JavaScript, generates bytecode for its Ignition interpreter, and hot paths are optimized to native code by the TurboFan and Maglev compilers, all implemented in C++.
Frequently Asked Questions
What language is V8 written in?
V8, the JavaScript and WebAssembly engine from Google, is written in C++. It compiles JavaScript to machine code with a tiered JIT and powers Chrome, Node.js, Deno, and Electron.
When was V8 first released?
V8 was first released in 2008.