What is the role of the Dart virtual machine and why is it used in the code execution process?

The Dart Virtual Machine (Dart VM) is an execution environment responsible for running code written in the Dart language. It provides interpretation and/or compilation of Dart code into machine code, manages memory (garbage collection), and offers basic services for application execution.

During Flutter application development, the Dart VM is used for quick code startup and debugging (e.g., in hot reload mode). In production builds, Flutter is usually compiled into native code (AOT compilation), but the Dart VM is important for development and testing.

Thus, the role of the Dart VM is to ensure efficient and convenient execution of Dart code, facilitating development and increasing application performance.