VBScript ("Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition") is a deprecated programming language for scripting on Microsoft Windows using Component Object Model (COM), developed by Microsoft and modeled on Visual Basic and Active Scripting. It allows Windows system administrators to create tools for managing computers with error handling, subroutines, and other advanced programming constructs. It can give the user complete control over many aspects of their computing environment. It has been installed by default in every desktop release of Windows since Windows 98,^[1] and in every release of Windows Server since Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack.^[2]

A VBScript script must be executed within a host environment, which can be one of several within Windows, including: Windows Script Host (WSH), Internet Explorer (IE), and Internet Information Services (IIS).^[3] The running environment is embeddable in other programs via the Microsoft Script Control (msscript.ocx)

In October 2023, Microsoft announced that VBScript was deprecated.^[4] In May 2024, a multi-phase depreciation schedule was announced with removal planned for 2027 or later.^[5]

History

Environments

Client-side web

Active Server Pages

Windows Script Host

VBScript can run directly in the operating system via the Windows Script Host (WSH). A script file, usually with extension .vbs, can be run either via wscript.exe for graphical user interface (GUI) or cscript.exe for command-line interface.

Windows script file

A Windows Script File, styled after XML, can include multiple VBS files and is therefore a library of VBScript code that can be reused in a modular way. The files have the extension .wsf and can be executed using wscript.exe or cscript.exe, as with a .vbs file.

HTML Application

An HTML Application (HTA) is styled after HTML. The HTML in the file is used to generate the user interface, and a scripting language such as VBScript is used for the program logic. The files have an .hta extension and can be executed using mshta.exe.

Windows Script Component

VBScript can also be used in a Windows Script Component, an ActiveX-enabled script class that can be invoked by other COM-enabled applications. These files have the extension .wsc.

Uses

See also

• JScript
• JScript .NET
• PowerShell
• Windows Script File

References

External links

• VBScript at Microsoft Docs
  • The VBScript-to-Windows PowerShell Conversion Guide (2009-11-12)
• VBScript at Wikipedia

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