 | |
| Paradigm | Multi-paradigm: object-oriented (prototype-based), functional, imperative, scripting |
|---|---|
| Family | ECMAScript |
| Designed by | Gary Grossman |
| Developer | Macromedia (now merged into Adobe Systems) |
| First appeared | 1998 |
| Stable release | 3.0
/ June 27, 2006 |
| Typing discipline | strong, static |
| Scope | lexical |
| Website | www |
| Major implementations | |
| Adobe Flash Player, Adobe AIR, Apache Flex, Scaleform GFx | |
| Influenced by | |
| HyperTalk, JavaScript, Java | |
| Influenced | |
| Haxe, TypeScript[1] | |
| Filename extension |
.as |
|---|---|
| Internet media type |
application/ecmascript[2] |
ActionScript is an object-oriented programming language originally developed by Macromedia Inc. (later acquired by Adobe). It is influenced by HyperTalk, the scripting language for HyperCard.[3] It is now an implementation of ECMAScript (meaning it is a superset of the syntax and semantics of the language more widely known as JavaScript), though it originally arose as a sibling, both being influenced by HyperTalk. ActionScript code is usually converted to bytecode format by a compiler.
ActionScript is used primarily for the development of websites and software targeting the Adobe Flash platform, originally finding use on web pages in the form of embedded SWF files.
ActionScript 3 is also used with the Adobe AIR system for the development of desktop and mobile applications. The language itself is open-source in that its specification is offered free of charge[4] and both an open-source compiler (as part of Apache Flex) and open-source virtual machine (Tamarin) are available.
ActionScript was also used with Scaleform GFx for the development of three-dimensional video-game user interfaces and heads up displays.
- ^ Nelson, Gary (April 28, 2020). "How ActionScript foreshadowed TypeScript". Medium. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ RFC 4329 (limit compatible with EcmaScript)
- ^ "Apple's lost decade, HyperCard, and what might NOT have been if Apple then was like Apple is today". ZDNet. April 17, 2011. Archived from the original on April 21, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ^ "ActionScript 3 Language Specification". Archived from the original on March 27, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2016.