A scripting language is a programming language that is used to manipulate, customize, and automate the facilities of an existing system. Scripting languages are usually interpreted at runtime rather than compiled, and their primitives are usually elementary tasks or API calls that can be combined into more complex programs. Scripting languages can be used to automate environments such as application software, text editors, web pages, operating system shells, embedded systems, and computer games.

Scripting languages are generally easier to learn and faster to code in than more structured and compiled languages such as C and C++. They are typically converted into machine code on the fly during runtime by a program called an interpreter, which can cause performance problems because the instructions are not handled solely by the processor. However, this approach makes it easier for scripts to work with programs written in other languages.

All scripting languages are programming languages, but not all programming languages are scripting languages. Scripting languages are a type of programming language that is interpreted rather than requiring compilation. They are designed for specific runtime environments to provide additional functions, integrate complex systems, and communicate with other programming languages. Examples of scripting languages include JavaScript, Perl, Python, Ruby, and Unix shells.

Scripting languages are used in many areas, including web applications, server-side and client-side scripting, game development, and system administration. They are an effective tool for programmers, engineers, and other developers to create systems and software, and are an excellent introduction to coding and programming.