The Ultimate Guide to Scripting Languages

Updated on September 16, 2022

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In this ultimate guide to scripting languages, find out what scripting languages are, what they are used for, and which languages are most popular.

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Scripting languages are interpreted one line of code at a time.
Some programming languages are compiled into an executable program file.
JavaScript is commonly used to create interactive websites.

Scripting languages differ from other programming languages in several important ways. In this guide, you will learn what scripting languages are, what they are used for, and which ones you should consider learning.

What Are Scripting Languages?

Scripting languages are programming languages that are designed for scripting. So, what is scripting? Scripting is the process of using a scripting language to write a short program that is executed one line of code at a time. These programs do not need to be compiled before running. Instead, the application or shell that runs them interprets them line by line.

Often, scripts contain instructions that a human operator could type in manually. The script automates these actions so that many lines of code can be run simply by running the script. These can be used to automate computer processes and generate web pages.

Scripting vs. Programming Languages

A scripting language is a type of programming language. However, unlike code written in scripting languages, code written in other programming languages must be compiled before being run. The process of compiling creates an executable (.exe) file that can be run directly from the operating system.

Scripts written in scripting languages, on the other hand, must be run within the shell or program they were designed to run in. They cannot be compiled into a program or run from the command prompt.

Students interested in learning how to script should research the languages various schools teach in their computer science programs. Many computer programming degree programs include regular programming languages like Java and C/C++, but do not include any scripting languages.

Factor	Scripting Language	Other Programming Language
Interpreted by	Interpreter within a program or shell	Compiler
Conversion	Converted to machine language one line at a time	Compiled all at once to convert to machine language
Size	Small amount of code, up to a few thousand lines	The full code for a program
Complexity	Easy to use	More difficult
Execution	Runs inside of another program	Runs independently from other programs

Server-Side vs. Client-Side Scripting Languages

There are two main types of scripting languages used in web design: server-side and client-side. Server-side refers to any code that runs on the server in the background. For example, the PHP code that powers a WordPress website is executed on the server, not by the browser itself.

Client-side refers to anything that runs on the user’s web browser. For example, JavaScript code can be read and interpreted by a browser. Here are some of the most common server-side and client-side scripting languages.

Server-Side Scripting Languages

PHP: PHP is a general-purpose scripting language that is widely used in web development. Because this scripting language is fast and flexible, it is used to power millions of websites, including every site that runs on WordPress or Joomla. These popular content management systems are written in PHP.
Ruby: Ruby can be used on the server-side to save and store data and execute and validate transactions. Although it has some client-side uses, it is not typically executed within a browser. Therefore, it is mainly a server-side scripting language. Ruby can, however, be interpreted and compiled into a standalone program.
Python: Python is not usually used directly to generate websites. Rather, it’s typically run within a framework designed for this purpose. Django and Flask are examples of popular web frameworks that can be used to support the development of websites using Python.

Client-Side Scripting Languages

JavaScript:JavaScript is commonly used as a client-side scripting language. The code runs on the user’s browser and allows the programmer to add interactivity to the website. For example, JavaScript lets you click to show more information or hide information. It can allow you to zoom in on an image or play a video within a webpage.
AJAX: AJAX can be used as either a client-side technology or a server-side technology. AJAX stands for “asynchronous JavaScript and XML.” It is a technology that enables JavaScript to send information to a server-side script and receive information back from the script.

What Are Scripting Languages Used For?

Scripting languages allow programmers to create interactive websites, browser extensions, and online games. JavaScript, in particular, makes it easy for programmers to develop cross-platform mobile games. Popular JavaScript games include Polycraft, Swoop, Hangman, and Little Alchemy.

Scripting languages are also used for data extraction. Python and R are commonly used for data mining. These languages can be used to import data from Excel spreadsheets, perform calculations, and display the mined data in a graphical format.

In addition to careers such as JavaScript programmer and Python programmer, there are many jobs available for those who can program in scripting languages. Examples include UX/UI designer, front-end web developer, mobile app developer, and software engineer.

Benefits of Learning a Scripting Language

There are many benefits to learning a scripting language. These include:

Easy to learn: Scripting languages are high-level programming languages, which means that they are written to make sense to the people who use them. As a result, they are easy to learn and use.
No compiling: Scripting languages do not need to be compiled before use. This means they require one less step than other programming languages. It is also easier on the system’s memory to run an interpreter than to compile.
Cross-platform: Scripting languages are designed to be read by a browser or a remote server, so they don’t require special software to run.
Open source: Scripting languages are freely available to anyone who wants to use them. All you have to do is learn.

The Best Scripting Languages To Know

If you are ready to get started scripting, here are a few of the best scripting languages to learn:

PHP: PHP is an open-source scripting language that is frequently used in back-end web development.
Python: Python is known for its concise syntax. It requires less typing than many other languages.
Ruby: Ruby is one of the easiest scripting languages to learn. It is an object-oriented programming language that lends itself to writing logical and clean code.
JavaScript: JavaScript allows functions to be treated as variables and supports object-oriented programming.
Perl: Perl was frequently used for common gateway interface scripting in the 1990s and is still a fairly popular general-purpose scripting language.

Scripting Languages Bootcamps

Since many bachelor’s degree programs in computer programming do not cover scripting languages, a lot of students have to find alternative ways to learn them. Many bootcamp providers offer programs in scripting languages, especially JavaScript, Python, and PHP. These coding bootcamps typically take just a few months to complete and may cost less than a college education.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scripting Languages

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