What is the best definition of a script?

What is the best definition of a script?

• It’s a text file that contains instructions which make up a Python program
• It’s an error message generated by the interpreter
• It’s an error message generated by the compiler
• It’s a text file that contains sequences of zeroes and ones

The correct answer is:

It’s a text file that contains instructions which make up a Python program.

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Explanation:

What is a Script?

A script is a text file containing a sequence of instructions written in a programming language (like Python). These instructions are intended to be interpreted or executed by a corresponding interpreter, such as the Python interpreter.

• In Python, scripts typically have a .py file extension (e.g., example_script.py).
• When executed, the interpreter reads the instructions in the script and performs the specified actions.

Characteristics of a Script:

1. Text File:
   • A script is written in plain text and can be created or edited using a text editor or an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) like VS Code or PyCharm.
2. Contains Instructions:
   • The instructions can include function definitions, loops, conditionals, imports, and more.
   • Example Python script:

     print("Hello, World!")
     name = input("What's your name? ")
     print(f"Hello, {name}!")
     

3. Executed by an Interpreter:
   • Scripts are not compiled into machine code. Instead, they are interpreted line-by-line by the Python interpreter.
4. Purpose:
   • Scripts are typically used to automate tasks, perform computations, or create applications.

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Why the Other Options are Incorrect:

1. “It’s an error message generated by the interpreter”:
   • An error message is not a script; it’s a diagnostic output generated when the interpreter encounters issues (e.g., syntax errors or runtime errors).
2. “It’s an error message generated by the compiler”:
   • Python does not use a traditional compiler like C++ or Java. Instead, Python code is interpreted or compiled into intermediate bytecode (.pyc files). Additionally, error messages are separate from scripts.
3. “It’s a text file that contains sequences of zeroes and ones”:
   • Zeroes and ones represent binary files, which are machine-readable. A script is human-readable and written in a high-level language.

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Conclusion:

A script is a text file that contains the instructions to make up a program. In Python, these instructions are executed by the Python interpreter to perform specific tasks. This definition aligns with how Python and most other scripting languages operate.