(1) A particular version of a
runtime library.
(2) A subset of a more comprehensive program that has limited capability. For example, a database management system (DBMS) that includes an interpreted programming language requires users to have the interpreter software installed in their computers to run the applications.
However, if users do not have the full-blown DBMS development environment in their computers, a runtime version of the DBMS that can be freely packaged with the application lets them run the app. The runtime version would provide only the interpreter, but it would not let the user interact with the data in an ad hoc manner as would the complete DBMS system. See
DBMS,
interpreter,
runtime engine,
runtime environment,
runtime library and
runtime error.