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Paradigm | Multi-paradigm: object-oriented (prototype-based), functional, imperative, scripting |
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Designed by | Gary Grossman |
Developer | Macromedia (now dissolved into Adobe Systems) |
First appeared | 1998 |
Stable release | 3.0
/ June 27, 2006 |
Typing discipline | strong, static |
Website | adobe.com/devnet/actionscript/ |
Major implementations | |
Adobe Flash Player, Adobe AIR, Apache Flex, Scaleform GFx | |
Influenced by | |
HyperTalk, JavaScript, Java | |
Influenced | |
Haxe, TypeScript[1] |
Filename extension |
.as |
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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 byte-code 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.