Bridging (programming)

<p>In <a href="/facts/Computer_science/lN3pEyPz">computer science</a>, bridging describes systems that map the runtime behaviour of different <a href="/facts/Programming_language/cWTYbgWa">programming languages</a> so they can share common resources. They are often used to allow "foreign" languages to operate a host platform's native <a href="/facts/Object_library/xRzL3P7q">object libraries</a>, translating data and state across the two sides of the bridge. Bridging contrasts with "embedding" systems that allow limited interaction through a <a href="/facts/Black_box/hJeAGnIz">black box</a> mechanism, where state sharing is limited or non-existent.
</p><p><a href="/facts/Apple_Inc./oTJYta3k">Apple Inc.</a> has made heavy use of bridging on several occasions, notably in early versions of <a href="/facts/Mac_OS_X/Y93vVpTm">Mac OS X</a> which bridged to older "classic" systems using the <a href="/facts/Carbon_(API)/KAIwFWI2">Carbon</a> system as well as <a href="/facts/Java_(programming_language)/9ScgFyAL">Java</a>. <a href="/facts/Microsoft/nGIDDXdx">Microsoft</a>'s <a href="/facts/Common_Language_Runtime/4Y0cUdkd">Common Language Runtime</a>, introduced with the <a href="/facts/.NET_Framework/J6QDAUhP">.NET Framework</a>, was designed to be multi-language from the start, and avoided the need for extensive bridging solutions. Both platforms have more recently added new bridging systems for <a href="/facts/JavaScript/XhhIIEsl">JavaScript</a>, Apple's ObjC-to-JS and Microsoft's HTML Bridge.
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Bridging (programming) open-in-new

Bridging (programming)