Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)

The EVM is the global virtual computer. Its state is stored and agreed upon by every participant on the Ethereum network.

Any participant can request the execution of arbitrary code on the EVM with a transaction; code execution changes the state of the EVM.

Code that runs on the EVM is called a smart contract.

contract Hello {
    string public message = "Hello World Computer";

    function setMessage(string calldata _new) public {
        message = _new;
    }
}

Transaction (requires gas fee)

State

Message:

Hello World Computer