Scripting Languages:

Scripting languages is a programming language that is used to create commands that do not require any compilation. Scripting languages are interpreted at runtime allowing for more flexibility and easier development. Scripting languages usually facilitate automation within an organization to enhance efficiency.

Categories of Scripting Languages:

1- Server Side:
Server side scripting languages interact directly with and run on server. These scripts are typically invisible to end user/client.

2- Client Side:
Client side scripting languages duly pay attention on parts of a website on web application with which end user interacts directly.

Significance of Scripting Languages:

1- Scripting languages play vital role in Software development.
2- Scripting languages excel at automating repetitive tasks and provide high-level abstractions and libraries that               simplify operations making it easier to automate complex workflows.
3- Scripting languages are frequently used in game development.
4- Scripting languages are being used for data processing and analysis tasks.
5- Scripting languages are often designed to be platform- independent which is beneficial for cross-platform                     development and deployment as scripts can be written once and executed on different systems.
6- Scripting languages are commonly used to extend functionality of existing software applications.

Top 10 Scripting Languages:

There are various scripting languages that you can learn. Some of them are as followed:

1- JavaScript:

JavaScript is widely used scripting language primarily designed for Web development. JavaScript is a high-level, text- based scripting language that can operate on either client-side or server-side.

Client Side Development:
JavaScript is the de-facto scripting language for web-browsers. It enables developers to enhance web pages by adding interactivity, dynamic content and other elements. HTML and CSS can be manipulated with JavaScript.

Server Side Development:
JavaScript is no longer limited to client side. Now JavaScript can be used for server side development. Node.js allows JavaScript to run on server which enables developers to build scalable and high performance web applications.

2- PHP:

It stands for Hypertext Preprocessor. It is also a popular scripting language. It is widely used for building dynamic websites and web applications. It is an open-source and general-purpose scripting language. As Web developers have built new languages, PHP has become less prominent in web design.

Features:

Strong Security:
Security is a crucial aspect of PHP, especially while handling sensitive data and interacting with external system.

Visibility Control:
PHP allows you to control the visibility of properties using access modifiers (‘public’ , ‘protected’ and ‘private’)

Easy Integration With HTML:
PHP code is embedded directly within HTML, making it easier to add dynamic content with static HTML markup.

3- Python:

Python is a high-level interpreted programming language that is well-known for its simplicity and readability. To run python code, you need a python interpreter installed on your computer.

Features:

Clear Syntax:
Python’s syntax is designed to be clear and readable resembling much with natural language.

Large Standard Library:
Python having comprehensive standard library, provides wide range of modules and packages for common tasks such as file I/O, networking, Web development, database access etc

Versatility:
Python is honored for its versatility for broad range of applications and domains. Its versatility and flexibility make it more popular among beginners and experienced developers.

4- Perl:

Perl is a high-level, general purpose scripting language. It stands for ‘Practical Extraction And Reporting Language‘. Its flexibility and powerful text processing capabilities make it popular for tasks such as data manipulation, Web development and network programming. Perl shares many structural similarities to programming in C language.

Features:

Expressive Syntax:
Its syntax is highly expressive which helps developers to write concise and efficient code.

Extensibility:
Perl has a wide ecosystem of modules and libraries available through ‘Comprehensive Perl Archive Network (CPAN)’. These modules help professionals in Web development and provides database access etc. Perl 5 is being the most widely used version.

5- Ruby:

Ruby is a dynamic, object-oriented scripting language which focuses on simplicity and productivity. It provides a framework for developing Web applications quickly and efficiently. It can also be used for data analysis and other purposes.

Features:

Readable Syntax:
Ruby has expressive and readable syntax and focuses on human-friendly code. This feature enables Web developers to write concise and expressive code.

Meta Programming:
Ruby’s operations include meta programming in which programs can modify and extend themselves at runtime.

Cross Platform Compatibility:
Ruby is available on various operating systems including Unix/Linux, Mac OS and Windows etc, making it suitable for developing apps that run on more than one platform.

6- Bash:

Bash (Bourne Again Shell) is a popular Unix shell and command line language. Bash is widely used to access files and complete tasks through command line. The reason of popularity of Bash is its syntax which is very simple and intuitive.

Features:

Data Storage:
Bash allows you to define and use variables to store data. Variable can hold strings, numbers or other types of values.

Control Structure:
Bash provides control structures like loops and conditional statements.

Scripting:
You can write Bash scripts which are files containing a series of Bash commands.

7- R:

R is a scripting language that is popular in statistics and data analysis. R is an open-source language and environment for statistical computing and graphics.

Features:

Data Manipulation:
R offers extensive tools for data manipulation including functions for data cleaning, transformation, merging and sub-setting.

Statistical Analysis:
R has wide collection of packages and libraries that provide various statistical methods. It allows researchers and data analysis to perform complex statistical computation.

Data Visualization:
R has incredible capabilities for creating high-quality graphs and visualization.

Integration:
R can be integrated with other programming languages like python, C++ and Java.

8- Lua:

It is an embedded scripting language. Lua is commonly used in video game development, embedded systems, scripting in software applications and other areas where a compact and extensible scripting language is required.

Features:

Portability:
Lua is extremely portable and runs on various platforms including windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Simple Syntax:
Lua has simple and straight-forward syntax making it easy to learn and use.

Extensibilty:
Lua is highly extensible and allows user to define latest functions and libraries in Lua itself or through C or C++ extensions. This feature enables developer to use Lua according to their requirements.

9- VBA:

VBA is a domain-specific scripting language and it is the abbreviation of ‘Visual Basic For Applications’. It is designed by Microsoft and primarily used for automating tasks and creating macros within Microsoft Office applications (such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Access).

Features:

Automation:
It allows user to automate repetitive tasks in Microsoft Office apps. User can write VBA code to perform actions. This helps in improving productivity and efficiency by reducing manual efforts.

Custom User Interface:
VBA enables creation of custom user interface within Office Apps.

Object Oriented Programming:
VBA follows an object-oriented programming paradigm. It allows user to have access to object models of Office applications.

10- PowerShell:

It is a powerful line shell and scripting language developed by Microsoft. It involves in multi-tasks and saves time.

Features:

Integration:
PowerShell is developed to integrate with various technologies and applications. It can interact with other scripting languages.

Remote Management:
It provides support for remote administration which allows you to manage Windows System remotely. You can execute commands and scripts on remote computers.

Script Security:
It is highly secured and provides user a security model that allows user to control the execution of scripts. This features helps to prevent malicious scripts.