OTP 26.2.2

Online Erlang Compiler & Editor

Name: myCompiler Erlang
Author: myCompiler

myCompiler is a free online Erlang compiler, editor and code runner that lets you write, run, and share Erlang code directly in your browser. It works as your Erlang playground, sandbox, fiddle, cloud compiler, and online REPL. No downloads, no installation needed. Just open the editor and start coding with syntax highlighting, autocomplete, and instant output.

Start coding in Erlang How it works

27+ languages Used by 1M+ developers Free forever

main.erl

-module(main).
-export([main/1]).

main(_) ->
    List = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5],
    Sum = lists:sum(List),
    Doubled = lists:map(fun(X) -> X * 2 end, List),
    io:format("Sum: ~p~n", [Sum]),
    io:format("Doubled: ~p~n", [Doubled]).

Output

Sum: 15 Doubled: [2,4,6,8,10]

How to run Erlang code online

Three steps to go from idea to running Erlang code in this online playground. No account required.

Write your code

Open the Erlang editor and start writing. The smart editor gives you syntax highlighting, autocomplete, and error detection as you type.

Click Run

Hit the Run button or press +Enter to run your Erlang code on secure, sandboxed cloud servers.

See results

Output appears instantly in the integrated terminal. Errors and exceptions show up with clear, helpful messages.

Everything you need to code in Erlang

A complete online Erlang IDE and coding playground in your browser. Write, run, and share code without any setup.

Zero setup required

Start coding in seconds with this browser-based Erlang interpreter. No downloads, no installations, no environment configuration. Open your browser, go to myCompiler, and start writing Erlang code immediately.

Works on any device with a web browser. Desktop, laptop, tablet, phone, Chromebook. There is nothing to install and nothing to configure.

Feature-rich code editor

Write Erlang with a professional-grade code editor built into your browser. Syntax highlighting colors your code for readability, making keywords, strings, and functions easy to distinguish at a glance.

Intelligent autocomplete suggests methods and properties as you type, and real-time error detection catches mistakes before you run your code.

Multi-file projects

Create and manage multiple files in a single project. Use the file sidebar to organize your code into modules, then import them across files just like in a desktop IDE.

Build modular applications with proper project structure. Each file is editable, and you can switch between them instantly.

Run code instantly

Click the Run button or press +Enter to execute your Erlang code instantly. This online code runner displays output immediately in the integrated terminal panel. Your code runs on secure, sandboxed cloud servers and results appear in seconds.

Error messages and tracebacks are displayed clearly, making it easy to find and fix issues. The terminal supports ANSI colors for rich output formatting.

Ready to try it? Write and run your first Erlang program in seconds.

Open Erlang editor

Erlang on myCompiler

myCompiler runs OTP 26.2.2, always up to date with the latest stable release. You get a full browser-based IDE with syntax highlighting, intelligent code completion, multi-file project support, a built-in terminal for real-time output, and standard input (stdin) for interactive programs. Write, compile, run, and debug Erlang code on any device. Desktop, laptop, tablet, phone, Chromebook. Zero downloads, zero configuration, and no sign-up required. Save your programs with a unique URL and share them with anyone. You can also embed a working Erlang editor on your own website.

Use this online Erlang playground as a quick code executor for testing snippets, a coding sandbox for learning, or a cloud compiler for coding interview preparation. The editor includes dark mode for comfortable coding, keyboard shortcuts for faster workflows, and clear error messages with line numbers so you can debug quickly. Students use it for homework and practice. Teachers use it to share working examples. Developers use it to prototype ideas. myCompiler is beginner-friendly, fast, and completely free. It works in any modern web browser.

Start coding in Erlang

Erlang code examples

Common Erlang patterns you can try in the online compiler. Each example is ready to run.

Hello World in Erlang

main.erl

-module(main).
-export([main/1]).

main(_) -> io:format("Hello, World!~n").

Variables and Data Types in Erlang

main.erl

-module(main).
-export([main/1]).

main(_) ->
    Name = "Alice",
    Age = 30,
    io:format("~s is ~p years old~n", [Name, Age]).

If-Else Conditionals in Erlang

main.erl

-module(main).
-export([main/1]).

main(_) ->
    X = 10,
    if
        X > 0 -> io:format("Positive~n");
        X =:= 0 -> io:format("Zero~n");
        true -> io:format("Negative~n")
    end.

For and While Loops in Erlang

main.erl

-module(main).
-export([main/1]).

main(_) ->
    lists:foreach(
        fun(I) -> io:format("Count: ~p~n", [I]) end,
        lists:seq(1, 5)
    ),
    Fruits = [apple, banana, cherry],
    lists:foreach(fun(F) -> io:format("~p~n", [F]) end, Fruits).

Functions in Erlang

main.erl

-module(main).
-export([main/1]).

greet(Name) -> greet(Name, "Hello").
greet(Name, Greeting) ->
    io:format("~s, ~s!~n", [Greeting, Name]).

main(_) ->
    greet("Alice"),
    greet("Bob", "Hi").

Arrays and Collections in Erlang

main.erl

-module(main).
-export([main/1]).

main(_) ->
    Fruits = [apple, banana, cherry],
    io:format("Head: ~p~n", [hd(Fruits)]),
    io:format("Length: ~p~n", [length(Fruits)]),

    Map = #{name => "Alice", age => 30},
    io:format("Name: ~s~n", [maps:get(name, Map)]).

Records in Erlang

main.erl

-module(main).
-export([main/1]).

% Erlang uses records instead of classes
-record(dog, {name, breed}).

bark(#dog{name=Name}) ->
    io:format("~s says Woof!~n", [Name]).

main(_) ->
    Rex = #dog{name="Rex", breed="Labrador"},
    bark(Rex).

Error Handling in Erlang

main.erl

-module(main).
-export([main/1]).

safe_divide(_, 0) -> {error, division_by_zero};
safe_divide(A, B) -> {ok, A div B}.

main(_) ->
    case safe_divide(10, 0) of
        {ok, Result} -> io:format("Result: ~p~n", [Result]);
        {error, Reason} -> io:format("Error: ~p~n", [Reason])
    end.

File I/O in Erlang

main.erl

-module(main).
-export([main/1]).

main(_) ->
    file:write_file("output.txt", "Hello, File!\n"),
    {ok, Content} = file:read_file("output.txt"),
    io:format("~s", [Content]).

Processes in Erlang

main.erl

-module(main).
-export([main/1]).

main(_) ->
    Parent = self(),
    Pid = spawn(fun() ->
        receive
            {compute, N} -> Parent ! {result, N * N}
        end
    end),
    Pid ! {compute, 7},
    receive
        {result, R} -> io:format("7 squared: ~p~n", [R])
    end.

Try these examples in the editor

How to take input in Erlang online

myCompiler supports standard input (stdin) for Erlang programs. Use Erlang's standard input functions to read user input. Enter your input data in the stdin panel before running your program.

This works for both single-line and multi-line input. You can read strings and convert to numbers using the language's built-in I/O functions.

Try it yourself

main.erl stdin supported

-module(main).
-export([main/1]).

main(_) ->
    {ok, [Name]} = io:fread("", "~s"),
    {ok, [Age]} = io:fread("", "~d"),
    io:format("Hello ~s!~n", [Name]),
    io:format("You'll be ~p next year.~n", [Age + 1]).

stdin

Alice
25

Output

Hello Alice!
You'll be 26 next year.

No setup, no sign-up. Start writing Erlang code right now.

Start coding now

Getting started with Erlang online

You can start writing and running Erlang code right now without installing anything. Type your code, and click Run. This free Erlang code runner executes your program instantly and displays the output in the terminal panel below the editor. Open the Erlang online editor, type your code, and click Run.

If you're new to Erlang, use this online Erlang playground to start with the basics like variables, data types, conditionals, and loops. The code examples above cover all the fundamentals you need to get started. Each example can be copied into the sandbox and run immediately. No setup, no configuration.

As you progress, try creating multi-file projects, using libraries, and sharing your programs with others via URL. Sign up for a free account to save your work and build a personal library of programs. myCompiler works as a full online Erlang IDE right in your browser.

Who uses myCompiler

Whether you're learning to code, preparing for interviews, or prototyping ideas, myCompiler is built for you.

Students & Learners

Practice exercises, complete homework assignments, and experiment with code without installing anything on school or personal computers.

Teachers & Educators

Share code examples with students via unique URLs. Embed the compiler in course materials so students can run examples directly in the browser.

Interview Candidates

Practice coding interview problems, test algorithms, and verify solutions quickly during preparation for technical interviews.

Professional Developers

Quickly prototype ideas, test code snippets, or try out a library without setting up a local environment. Great for quick experiments.

Content Creators & Bloggers

Embed interactive examples in blog posts, tutorials, and documentation so readers can run code without leaving the page.

Teams & Collaborators

Share code snippets with colleagues via URLs. Others can view, run, and fork your code to build on your work.

myCompiler vs. local IDE

Why use an online Erlang compiler instead of installing one locally?

Feature	myCompiler	Local IDE
Setup time	Instant	Minutes to hours
Installation	None required	Erlang + IDE required
Device support	Any browser	Desktop only
Sharing code	One-click URL	Manual (file, git, etc.)
Languages	27+ in one place	One at a time
Cost	Free forever	Free to $$$
Works on Chromebook	Yes	Limited

What is Erlang?

Erlang is a functional, concurrent programming language designed for building fault-tolerant, distributed systems. Developed at Ericsson in 1986 by Joe Armstrong, Mike Williams, and Robert Virding, Erlang was built to power telephone switches that required 99.9999999% uptime ("nine nines" availability). It runs on the BEAM virtual machine and introduced the Actor model of concurrency to mainstream software engineering.

Erlang's defining characteristics are lightweight processes (millions can run simultaneously), message passing (no shared memory between processes), and hot code swapping (upgrade running systems without stopping them). The OTP (Open Telecom Platform) library provides battle-tested patterns for building fault-tolerant supervisors, state machines, and distributed applications.

What is Erlang used for?

Erlang powers telecommunications infrastructure (Ericsson's systems handle 40% of global mobile traffic), messaging systems (WhatsApp was built on Erlang and handled 2 billion users with a tiny engineering team), real-time collaboration tools, payment processing systems, and distributed databases like CouchDB and Riak. Elixir, built on BEAM, has extended Erlang's reach into web development.

Erlang for beginners

Erlang requires a mindset shift, there are no loops (use recursion), no mutable variables, and concurrency is through message passing rather than threads. But these constraints produce remarkably robust software. Learning Erlang deepens your understanding of concurrency, fault tolerance, and distributed systems in ways few other languages can. Use myCompiler's online Erlang compiler to experiment with pattern matching, processes, and OTP behaviors.

Erlang vs other languages

Compared to Go for concurrency, Erlang's actor model provides stronger fault isolation (a crashed process doesn't affect others) while Go's goroutines have lower overhead but share memory. Compared to Elixir, Erlang has a more verbose syntax but Elixir runs on the same BEAM VM with a more modern, Ruby-inspired syntax. For fault tolerance in distributed systems, Erlang/BEAM remains unmatched.

Why use an online Erlang compiler?

An online Erlang compiler, also called an Erlang sandbox or BEAM playground, lets you compile and run Erlang code directly in your browser without installing the Erlang runtime. This is ideal for learning Erlang's pattern matching, understanding the actor model of concurrency, experimenting with OTP behaviors, and exploring functional programming concepts without complex local setup.

myCompiler's online Erlang IDE provides the full Erlang/OTP runtime. You can spawn processes, use message passing, pattern match on tuples and lists, and use standard OTP modules. Save and share Erlang programs via URL, completely free.

Why is Erlang so popular?

Erlang's influence far exceeds its direct user base. The BEAM VM's concurrency model inspired languages like Elixir, Gleam, and Akka's actor model in Scala. WhatsApp's use of Erlang to serve 2 billion users with 50 engineers became legendary in the industry. The OTP framework's supervision trees are a proven pattern for building reliable distributed systems. For anyone building systems that must never go down, Erlang's model remains the gold standard.

Erlang career opportunities

Erlang expertise is specialized but highly valued for distributed systems engineer, telecommunications engineer, backend engineer at companies using BEAM (Ericsson, WhatsApp, Discord), and Elixir developer roles (since Elixir and Erlang share the BEAM runtime). Elixir's growing popularity for web development has increased demand for BEAM-proficient engineers significantly.

Try Erlang online Free · No sign-up needed

Keyboard shortcuts

Code faster with these keyboard shortcuts in the myCompiler editor.

Run code

+ Enter

Save program

+ S

Toggle comment

+ /

Indent line

Tab

Unindent line

Shift + Tab

Undo

+ Z

Select next occurrence

+ D

Find & replace

+ H

Embed the Erlang compiler on your website

Add an interactive Erlang compiler to your website, blog, or learning platform. Readers can write and run Erlang code directly on your page without leaving it.

Perfect for technical tutorials, coding courses, documentation, and educational content. Save a program on myCompiler and use the embed link to add it to any webpage.

Embedded Erlang compiler, editor and code runner

HTML

<iframe
src="https://www.mycompiler.io
    /embed/erlang"
width="100%"
height="400"
frameborder="0">
</iframe>

Why developers choose myCompiler

A full-featured online IDE for Erlang and 27+ other programming languages.

27+ Languages

Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, Rust, Go, TypeScript, C#, and many more. All compilers and interpreters in one place. Switch languages instantly.

Dark & Light Mode

Switch between light and dark themes with one click. Code comfortably in any lighting condition, day or night.

Mobile Friendly

Fully responsive editor optimized for phones, tablets, and Chromebooks. Code on any device with a web browser. No app download needed.

Save & Share Code

Save programs to your account, share via unique URLs, and let others view, fork, and run your code. Great for collaboration and code reviews.

Tags & Organization

Organize your saved programs with tags and find them quickly with search and filters. Build a personal library of code snippets and solutions.

No Account Required

Start writing and running code immediately. No sign-up, no email, no credit card. Create a free account later only if you want to save your work.

Explore more programming languages

myCompiler supports 27+ languages. Switch between them anytime. All free, all in one place.

View all 27+ languages

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about using the online Erlang compiler, playground, and code runner.

Yes! myCompiler is completely free for all supported languages including Erlang. There are no subscriptions, no premium tiers, and no hidden costs. Every feature is available at no charge.

myCompiler keeps its Erlang environment up to date. You can see the exact version on the language details section of this page. We regularly update all language runtimes to their latest stable versions.

myCompiler provides the Erlang runtime with OTP libraries. You can use pattern matching, processes, message passing, and standard Erlang/OTP modules in your programs.

Simply open the Erlang editor, write or paste your code, and click the Run button. Your code will be executed on our servers and the output will appear in the terminal panel within seconds.

Yes. Click Save to store your program. You will receive a unique URL that you can share with anyone. Recipients can view, fork, and run your code.

Yes. myCompiler supports multi-file projects. You can create, rename, and delete files in the sidebar. This lets you organize your Erlang code just like in a local IDE.

Yes. All code runs in isolated containers on our servers. Each execution gets its own sandboxed environment that is destroyed after completion. Your code cannot affect other users or our infrastructure.

Yes. myCompiler has a responsive design optimized for phones and tablets. You can write and run Erlang code on the go. The mobile interface uses tabs for switching between the editor, output, and file panels.

Yes. Click the Input tab in the bottom panel, type or paste your input data, then click Run. Your program will read from the input you provided.

Execution is fast. Code runs on our optimized cloud infrastructure and output typically appears within seconds. Execution time depends on the complexity of your program.

Yes. myCompiler provides an embed feature. You can copy an iframe snippet and paste it into your website, blog, or documentation. Visitors can edit and run code directly on your page.

myCompiler supports common editor shortcuts including Run (Ctrl/Cmd+Enter), Save (Ctrl/Cmd+S), Find (Ctrl/Cmd+F), and more. See the keyboard shortcuts section on this page for the full list.

No. myCompiler requires an internet connection because code is compiled and executed on our cloud servers. The editor itself loads in your browser, but running code requires connectivity.

myCompiler offers a fast, free, zero-setup environment with a modern code editor, multi-file support, dark mode, and instant sharing. It is ideal for learning, prototyping, interviews, and sharing code examples.

Yes. myCompiler is great for practicing algorithms and coding problems. You can write Erlang code, provide custom input, and test your solutions instantly. Save your work and come back to it anytime.

Use print statements or console output to trace your program's behavior. myCompiler shows all standard output and error messages in the terminal panel. Error messages include line numbers to help you locate issues.

Ready to write Erlang code?

Open the free Erlang playground and start coding immediately. No downloads, no account required.

Start coding in Erlang

Free · No sign-up required · OTP 26.2.2