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In computing, the term Rosetta primarily refers to a dynamic binary translator developed by Apple Inc. that allows software designed for one processor architecture to run on a different one. It is named after the Rosetta Stone, which provided the key to translating Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Apple's Rosetta Software. Apple has released two major versions of Rosetta to facilitate smooth transitions between different hardware architectures:

Rosetta (first version): Introduced in 2006 for Mac OS X Tiger, this version enabled applications built for PowerPC processors (G3, G4) to run on the new, Intel-based Macs. Support for the original Rosetta was discontinued with Mac OS X Lion (10.7) in 2011.

Rosetta 2: Introduced in 2020 as a core component of macOS Big Sur and later operating systems, Rosetta 2 allows applications compiled only for Intel processors (x86-64) to run seamlessly on Macs with Apple silicon (ARM-based M-series chips).

How it works:

Rosetta operates mostly in the background, transparently to the user. When an Intel-only application is launched on an Apple silicon Mac, Rosetta 2 automatically translates its instructions into a format the Apple silicon chip can understand. This translation often happens ahead-of-time (when the app is first installed or launched), so subsequent launches are fast, and the performance is surprisingly efficient, often comparable to or even better than on native Intel Macs.