Definition
A scripting language is a programming language used for managing system operations, automatic tasks, or scripting behavior of software applications.
Since scripting languages are interpreted instead of compiled, their codes are executed directly without being compiled into machine code.
Examples of Scripting Languages
- Javascript
- Python
- Ruby
- Bash
- PHP
- Lua
- Pearl
- Tcl
- AWK
- Groovy
- R (for statistical computing)
Uses of Scripting Language
- Automation: PowerShell and Bash scripts on Linux can automate repetitive tasks, such as batch naming, file manipulation, and data extraction.
- Web development: Front-end developers use JavaScript to add interactivity to web pages. Backend developers also use Ruby (Ruby on Rails), PHP, and Python (Django, Flask) for server-side scripting.
- Data analysis and manipulation: Languages with libraries like Pandas, such as Python, are used for data transformation and analysis.
- System administration: Scripts can monitor resources, manage system tasks, and automate deployment processes.
- Web scraping: Languages with tools like Scrapy or Beautiful Soup, such as Python, automate data scrapping from web pages.
- Testing: Software developers use scripting to simulate user behavior and analyze outcomes in software development.
- Embeddable logic: Some scripting languages, like Lua, have larger applications to handle customization or specific logic without altering the core program.
- Database operations: Administrators use scripting for data backups, maintenance, insertion, or extraction.
- Text processing: Languages such as Perl and AWK are used for processing tasks and text manipulation.
- Prototyping: Scripting tests algorithms or ideas before deploying them in fully developed applications.
- GUI automation: Scripts simulate keypresses, mouse clicks, and other GUI interactions for testing and automation.
- Cybersecurity: Scripting is widespread in vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and automating security tasks.