Performance Analysis of WebAssembly vs. Native Code: Beyond Small Kernels

Summary

This research paper analyzes the performance of WebAssembly compared to native code, challenging previous claims of near-parity performance. While earlier studies reported WebAssembly running only 10% slower than native code using small scientific kernels, this comprehensive analysis examines larger, more complex applications. The research finds that WebAssembly performance varies significantly depending on the application type and workload, with some applications showing much larger performance gaps than previously reported. The paper provides detailed benchmarks and analysis of WebAssembly's execution characteristics across different types of applications and workloads.