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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Native (computing)</span></span>
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<p><b>Native</b> describes a computing system as operating directly with an underlying technology; with no intervening communication or translation layers.
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Native_software">Native software</h2></div>
<p>Native software is <a href="Software_build" title="Software build">built</a> to be <a href="Execution_(computing)" title="Execution (computing)">executed</a> directly by <a href="Processor_(computing)" title="Processor (computing)">processors</a> that implement a compatible <a href="Instruction_set" class="mw-redirect" title="Instruction set">instruction set</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A program that runs natively on one platform is runnable on another platform via an <a href="Emulator" title="Emulator">emulator</a> if an emulator is available and, generally, with significant runtime speed degradation.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> For example, games for a <a href="Game_Boy" title="Game Boy">Game Boy</a> (typically distributed as a <a href="ROM_cartridge" title="ROM cartridge">cartridge</a>), generally run natively on a Game Boy which is relatively incompatible with other computer platforms.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> To run such a game on another processor, software that emulates the Game Boy hardware is required.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p><a href="Cross-platform_software" title="Cross-platform software">Cross-platform software</a> can run on multiple processors although possibly requiring it to be re-built for different target systems.
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Native_API">Native API</h2></div>
<p>A native <a href="Application_programming_interface" class="mw-redirect" title="Application programming interface">application programming interface</a> (API) provides direct access to an underlying technology. For example, the <a href="Windows" class="mw-redirect" title="Windows">Windows</a> <a href="Native_API" class="mw-redirect" title="Native API">Native API</a> is an <a href="Application_programming_interface" class="mw-redirect" title="Application programming interface">application programming interface</a> specific for the <a href="Windows_NT" title="Windows NT">Windows NT</a> kernel, which provides access to some kernel functions which cannot be directly accessed through the more universal <a href="Windows_API" title="Windows API">Windows API</a>.
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Native_VM">Native VM</h2></div>
<p>A native <a href="Virtual_machine" title="Virtual machine">virtual machine</a> (VM) runs directly on hardware; without virtualization or virtualization at its lowest level. For example, with multiple levels of virtualization, the lowest level operating system – the one that actually maintains direct control of the hardware – is referred to as a "Native VM".
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Native_data">Native data</h2></div>
<p>Applied to <a href="Data_(computing)" class="mw-redirect" title="Data (computing)">data</a>, native <a href="Data_type" title="Data type">data formats</a> or <a href="Communication_protocol" title="Communication protocol">communication protocols</a> are those supported by a certain <a href="Computer_hardware" title="Computer hardware">computer hardware</a> or software, with maximal consistency and minimal amount of additional components.
</p><p>For example, <a href="Enhanced_Graphics_Adapter" title="Enhanced Graphics Adapter">EGA</a> and <a href="VGA" class="mw-redirect" title="VGA">VGA</a> video adapters <i>natively</i> support <a href="Code_page_437" title="Code page 437">code page 437</a>. This does not preclude supporting other <a href="Code_page" title="Code page">code pages</a>, but it requires either a <a href="VGA-compatible_text_mode" class="mw-redirect" title="VGA-compatible text mode">font uploading</a> or using <a href="All_Points_Addressable" class="mw-redirect" title="All Points Addressable">graphic modes</a>.
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cloud_Native">Cloud Native</h2></div>
<p><b>Cloud native</b> refers to the approach of building, deploying, and managing applications in cloud computing environments – for software optimized for running on a cloud-based platform.
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>
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