skriptmotor

A skriptmotor, or script engine, is a software component that executes code written in a scripting language within a host application or platform. Its main role is to interpret or compile and run scripts, providing access to the host environment and controlling its behavior at runtime. Skriptmotors enable rapid customization, automation, and extensibility without recompiling the core application.

Most skriptmotor implementations expose a standard interface for evaluating code, managing execution contexts, and exchanging data between the script and host. Typical elements include a ScriptEngine (the runtime), a ScriptContext for input and output bindings, and Bindings (variables) that scripts can read and write. Engines may support features such as pre-compilation, debugging, and execution control.

In practice, a skriptmotor can be embedded in a wide range of platforms, including desktop and server applications, web services, game mods, and automation systems. They often support multiple languages via language implementations, allowing the host to offer plugins or extensions written by third parties. Prominent environments include the Java Scripting API for embedding languages in Java, and other ecosystems that provide their own engines.

Security and performance considerations are important. Engines can be configured to sandbox scripts, impose resource limits, and restrict access to sensitive host capabilities. Performance depends on the underlying interpreter or compiler; many engines offer just-in-time compilation, caching, and other optimizations to reduce startup and runtime overhead.