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Scripting languages automate software applications and descend from batch languages used for high-level business functions. They act as glue code, facilitate GUI functions, and are used in web applications and domain-specific languages like SQL and Logo.
A scripting language, also known as an extension language, is a type programming language that runs various software applications. Scripting languages descend from the Job Control Language, one of the first languages used by companies to automate the execution of a variety of tasks. This automation is called batch processing.
The languages used to control batch processing, called batch languages, are early forms of a scripting language. Since the 1950s, batch languages have been used as a means of performing high-level but repetitive business functions, such as billing and reporting. Batch languages are usually tied to a particular shell or user interface. Popular shells for batch languages include Cocoa®, various UNIX® and MS-DOS® shells.
There are many purposes for a scripting language. A very important purpose of such a language is to act as a glue code. A glue code is code used to bind various unrelated programs and applications together.
Scripting languages are also used in build automation for graphical user interfaces (GUIs). A GUI allows users to interact with an interface designed with images, buttons, and menus rather than command-line operations. A modern computer desktop is a good example of a GUI. A scripting language facilitates some functions of a GUI, such as printing and renaming files.
Many web applications are also written in a scripting language. One of the most recognizable web applications is a web browser. In its most basic form, a web browser allows the user to view dynamic web pages and move from page to page. Some examples of scripting languages used to build and design websites include JavaScript®, XUL, Ajax, VBScript® and XLST.
To create dynamic and interactive applications on the Internet, you need to use scripting languages. A popular scripting language used for this purpose is PHP. PHP builds on HTML by providing specific instructions for blocks of HTML code. In other words, HTML “comes to life” when PHP is embedded. PHP is mostly used as a server-side script, which means that it acts as a mediator between a website’s front-end and its back-end databases and datastores.
Scripting languages can also be used as domain specific languages. A domain-specific language is customized to run programs or applications for a specific domain problem or domain solution. For example, SQL is used to facilitate database queries, Logo is used to teach children how to code, and regular expressions are used by a variety of scripting languages to process text-based documents and files.
