Description: Runtime refers to the period during which a program is executing. This concept is fundamental in software development, as it encompasses the time from when a program starts until it completes its execution. During this time, the program interacts with the operating system, utilizes hardware resources, and executes code instructions. Runtime is crucial for evaluating a program’s performance, as it can be affected by various factors such as code efficiency, system load, and resource management. Additionally, runtime may include the execution of external libraries and dependencies, which can influence the program’s behavior and speed. In many programming languages, runtime also refers to the execution platform, which provides services such as memory management, garbage collection, and execution of intermediate code. Therefore, understanding runtime is essential for optimizing applications and ensuring they operate efficiently across different environments.