VBScript

VBSccript file format icon

VBScript

VBScript (short for Visual Basic Scripting Edition) is an Active Scripting language developed by Microsoft. It is modeled on Visual Basic and is designed to be a lightweight language with a fast interpreter for use in a wide variety of Microsoft environments. VBScript is used primarily for client-side scripting in Microsoft Internet Explorer and for server-side scripting in Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS).

History

VBScript was first introduced in 1996 with the release of Internet Explorer 3.0. It was designed to be a simple, easy-to-learn scripting language that could be used to automate tasks in the Windows operating system and to add interactivity to web pages. Over the years, VBScript has been integrated into various Microsoft products, including Microsoft Office and Windows Script Host.

Features

VBScript is a dynamically typed language with a syntax similar to that of Visual Basic. It supports a variety of programming constructs, including:

• Variables and Constants
• Conditional Statements (e.g., If...Then...Else)
• Looping Constructs (e.g., For...Next, While...Wend)
• Procedures and Functions
• Error Handling

VBScript also includes a number of built-in functions for string manipulation, date and time operations, and mathematical calculations.

Usage

VBScript can be used in several different contexts, including:

• Client-side scripting in Internet Explorer: VBScript can be embedded directly into HTML pages to create interactive web applications.
• Server-side scripting in IIS: VBScript can be used to create dynamic web pages and web applications on the server.
• Automation: VBScript can be used to automate tasks in the Windows operating system and in Microsoft Office applications.

Limitations

VBScript is not supported by all web browsers. It is primarily supported by Internet Explorer, and its use has declined with the rise of more modern scripting languages like JavaScript. Additionally, VBScript is not as powerful or flexible as some other scripting languages, and it is generally considered to be less secure.

Related Technologies

• JScript
• Active Server Pages (ASP)
• Windows Script Host
• PowerShell

See Also

• Visual Basic
• JavaScript
• Active Scripting
• Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Microsoft Internet Information Services
• Windows Script Host