Module java.scripting
Package javax.script

# Interface ScriptEngine

All Known Implementing Classes:
  `AbstractScriptEngine`

public interface ScriptEngine
`ScriptEngine` is the fundamental interface whose methods must be fully functional in every implementation of this specification.
These methods provide basic scripting functionality. Applications written to this simple interface are expected to work with minimal modifications in every implementation. It includes methods that execute scripts, and ones that set and get values.
The values are key/value pairs of two types. The first type of pairs consists of those whose keys are reserved and defined in this specification or by individual implementations. The values in the pairs with reserved keys have specified meanings.
The other type of pairs consists of those that create Java language Bindings, the values are usually represented in scripts by the corresponding keys or by decorated forms of them.

Since:
  1.6

- ## Field Summary

  Fields
  Modifier and Type
  Field
  Description
  `static final String`
  `ARGV`
  Reserved key for a named value that passes an array of positional arguments to a script.
  `static final String`
  `ENGINE`
  Reserved key for a named value that is the name of the `ScriptEngine` implementation.
  `static final String`
  `ENGINE_VERSION`
  Reserved key for a named value that identifies the version of the `ScriptEngine` implementation.
  `static final String`
  `FILENAME`
  Reserved key for a named value that is the name of the file being executed.
  `static final String`
  `LANGUAGE`
  Reserved key for a named value that is the full name of Scripting Language supported by the implementation.
  `static final String`
  `LANGUAGE_VERSION`
  Reserved key for the named value that identifies the version of the scripting language supported by the implementation.
  `static final String`
  `NAME`
  Reserved key for a named value that identifies the short name of the scripting language.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `Bindings`
  `createBindings()`
  Returns an uninitialized `Bindings`.
  `Object`
  `eval(Reader reader)`
  Same as `eval(String)` except that the source of the script is provided as a `Reader`
  `Object`
  `eval(Reader reader, Bindings n)`
  Same as `eval(String, Bindings)` except that the source of the script is provided as a `Reader`.
  `Object`
  `eval(Reader reader, ScriptContext context)`
  Same as `eval(String, ScriptContext)` where the source of the script is read from a `Reader`.
  `Object`
  `eval(String script)`
  Executes the specified script.
  `Object`
  `eval(String script, Bindings n)`
  Executes the script using the `Bindings` argument as the `ENGINE_SCOPE` `Bindings` of the `ScriptEngine` during the script execution.
  `Object`
  `eval(String script, ScriptContext context)`
  Causes the immediate execution of the script whose source is the String passed as the first argument.
  `Object`
  `get(String key)`
  Retrieves a value set in the state of this engine.
  `Bindings`
  `getBindings(int scope)`
  Returns a scope of named values.
  `ScriptContext`
  `getContext()`
  Returns the default `ScriptContext` of the `ScriptEngine` whose Bindings, Reader and Writers are used for script executions when no `ScriptContext` is specified.
  `ScriptEngineFactory`
  `getFactory()`
  Returns a `ScriptEngineFactory` for the class to which this `ScriptEngine` belongs.
  `void`
  `put(String key, Object value)`
  Sets a key/value pair in the state of the ScriptEngine that may either create a Java Language Binding to be used in the execution of scripts or be used in some other way, depending on whether the key is reserved.
  `void`
  `setBindings(Bindings bindings, int scope)`
  Sets a scope of named values to be used by scripts.
  `void`
  `setContext(ScriptContext context)`
  Sets the default `ScriptContext` of the `ScriptEngine` whose Bindings, Reader and Writers are used for script executions when no `ScriptContext` is specified.

- ## Field Details

  - ### ARGV

    static final String ARGV
    Reserved key for a named value that passes an array of positional arguments to a script.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### FILENAME

    static final String FILENAME
    Reserved key for a named value that is the name of the file being executed.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### ENGINE

    static final String ENGINE
    Reserved key for a named value that is the name of the `ScriptEngine` implementation.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### ENGINE_VERSION

    static final String ENGINE_VERSION
    Reserved key for a named value that identifies the version of the `ScriptEngine` implementation.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### NAME

    static final String NAME
    Reserved key for a named value that identifies the short name of the scripting language. The name is used by the `ScriptEngineManager` to locate a `ScriptEngine` with a given name in the `getEngineByName` method.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### LANGUAGE

    static final String LANGUAGE
    Reserved key for a named value that is the full name of Scripting Language supported by the implementation.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### LANGUAGE_VERSION

    static final String LANGUAGE_VERSION
    Reserved key for the named value that identifies the version of the scripting language supported by the implementation.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

- ## Method Details

  - ### eval

    Object eval(String script, ScriptContext context) throws ScriptException
    Causes the immediate execution of the script whose source is the String passed as the first argument. The script may be reparsed or recompiled before execution. State left in the engine from previous executions, including variable values and compiled procedures may be visible during this execution.
    Parameters:
      `script` - The script to be executed by the script engine.
      `context` - A `ScriptContext` exposing sets of attributes in different scopes. The meanings of the scopes `ScriptContext.GLOBAL_SCOPE`, and `ScriptContext.ENGINE_SCOPE` are defined in the specification.
      The `ENGINE_SCOPE` `Bindings` of the `ScriptContext` contains the bindings of scripting variables to application objects to be used during this script execution.
    Returns:
      The value returned from the execution of the script.
    Throws:
      `ScriptException` - if an error occurs in script. ScriptEngines should create and throw `ScriptException` wrappers for checked Exceptions thrown by underlying scripting implementations.
      `NullPointerException` - if either argument is null.

  - ### eval

    Object eval(Reader reader, ScriptContext context) throws ScriptException
    Same as `eval(String, ScriptContext)` where the source of the script is read from a `Reader`.
    Parameters:
      `reader` - The source of the script to be executed by the script engine.
      `context` - The `ScriptContext` passed to the script engine.
    Returns:
      The value returned from the execution of the script.
    Throws:
      `ScriptException` - if an error occurs in script. ScriptEngines should create and throw `ScriptException` wrappers for checked Exceptions thrown by underlying scripting implementations.
      `NullPointerException` - if either argument is null.

  - ### eval

    Object eval(String script) throws ScriptException
    Executes the specified script. The default `ScriptContext` for the `ScriptEngine` is used.
    Parameters:
      `script` - The script language source to be executed.
    Returns:
      The value returned from the execution of the script.
    Throws:
      `ScriptException` - if an error occurs in script. ScriptEngines should create and throw `ScriptException` wrappers for checked Exceptions thrown by underlying scripting implementations.
      `NullPointerException` - if the argument is null.

  - ### eval

    Object eval(Reader reader) throws ScriptException
    Same as `eval(String)` except that the source of the script is provided as a `Reader`
    Parameters:
      `reader` - The source of the script.
    Returns:
      The value returned by the script.
    Throws:
      `ScriptException` - if an error occurs in script. ScriptEngines should create and throw `ScriptException` wrappers for checked Exceptions thrown by underlying scripting implementations.
      `NullPointerException` - if the argument is null.

  - ### eval

    Object eval(String script, Bindings n) throws ScriptException
    Executes the script using the `Bindings` argument as the `ENGINE_SCOPE` `Bindings` of the `ScriptEngine` during the script execution. The `Reader`, `Writer` and non-`ENGINE_SCOPE` `Bindings` of the default `ScriptContext` are used. The `ENGINE_SCOPE` `Bindings` of the `ScriptEngine` is not changed, and its mappings are unaltered by the script execution.
    Parameters:
      `script` - The source for the script.
      `n` - The `Bindings` of attributes to be used for script execution.
    Returns:
      The value returned by the script.
    Throws:
      `ScriptException` - if an error occurs in script. ScriptEngines should create and throw `ScriptException` wrappers for checked Exceptions thrown by underlying scripting implementations.
      `NullPointerException` - if either argument is null.

  - ### eval

    Object eval(Reader reader, Bindings n) throws ScriptException
    Same as `eval(String, Bindings)` except that the source of the script is provided as a `Reader`.
    Parameters:
      `reader` - The source of the script.
      `n` - The `Bindings` of attributes.
    Returns:
      The value returned by the script.
    Throws:
      `ScriptException` - if an error occurs in script. ScriptEngines should create and throw `ScriptException` wrappers for checked Exceptions thrown by underlying scripting implementations.
      `NullPointerException` - if either argument is null.

  - ### put

    void put(String key, Object value)
    Sets a key/value pair in the state of the ScriptEngine that may either create a Java Language Binding to be used in the execution of scripts or be used in some other way, depending on whether the key is reserved. Must have the same effect as `getBindings(ScriptContext.ENGINE_SCOPE).put`.
    Parameters:
      `key` - The name of named value to add
      `value` - The value of named value to add.
    Throws:
      `NullPointerException` - if key is null.
      `IllegalArgumentException` - if key is empty.

  - ### get

    Object get(String key)
    Retrieves a value set in the state of this engine. The value might be one which was set using `setValue` or some other value in the state of the `ScriptEngine`, depending on the implementation. Must have the same effect as `getBindings(ScriptContext.ENGINE_SCOPE).get`
    Parameters:
      `key` - The key whose value is to be returned
    Returns:
      the value for the given key
    Throws:
      `NullPointerException` - if key is null.
      `IllegalArgumentException` - if key is empty.

  - ### getBindings

    Bindings getBindings(int scope)
    Returns a scope of named values. The possible scopes are:
    - `ScriptContext.GLOBAL_SCOPE` - The set of named values representing global scope. If this `ScriptEngine` is created by a `ScriptEngineManager`, then the manager sets global scope bindings. This may be `null` if no global scope is associated with this `ScriptEngine`
    - `ScriptContext.ENGINE_SCOPE` - The set of named values representing the state of this `ScriptEngine`. The values are generally visible in scripts using the associated keys as variable names.
    - Any other value of scope defined in the default `ScriptContext` of the `ScriptEngine`.
    The `Bindings` instances that are returned must be identical to those returned by the `getBindings` method of `ScriptContext` called with corresponding arguments on the default `ScriptContext` of the `ScriptEngine`.
    Parameters:
      `scope` - Either `ScriptContext.ENGINE_SCOPE` or `ScriptContext.GLOBAL_SCOPE` which specifies the `Bindings` to return. Implementations of `ScriptContext` may define additional scopes. If the default `ScriptContext` of the `ScriptEngine` defines additional scopes, any of them can be passed to get the corresponding `Bindings`.
    Returns:
      The `Bindings` with the specified scope.
    Throws:
      `IllegalArgumentException` - if specified scope is invalid

  - ### setBindings

    void setBindings(Bindings bindings, int scope)
    Sets a scope of named values to be used by scripts. The possible scopes are:
    - `ScriptContext.ENGINE_SCOPE` - The specified `Bindings` replaces the engine scope of the `ScriptEngine`.
    - `ScriptContext.GLOBAL_SCOPE` - The specified `Bindings` must be visible as the `GLOBAL_SCOPE`.
    - Any other value of scope defined in the default `ScriptContext` of the `ScriptEngine`.
    The method must have the same effect as calling the `setBindings` method of `ScriptContext` with the corresponding value of `scope` on the default `ScriptContext` of the `ScriptEngine`.
    Parameters:
      `bindings` - The `Bindings` for the specified scope.
      `scope` - The specified scope. Either `ScriptContext.ENGINE_SCOPE`, `ScriptContext.GLOBAL_SCOPE`, or any other valid value of scope.
    Throws:
      `IllegalArgumentException` - if the scope is invalid
      `NullPointerException` - if the bindings is null and the scope is `ScriptContext.ENGINE_SCOPE`

  - ### createBindings

    Bindings createBindings()
    Returns an uninitialized `Bindings`.
    Returns:
      A `Bindings` that can be used to replace the state of this `ScriptEngine`.

  - ### getContext

    ScriptContext getContext()
    Returns the default `ScriptContext` of the `ScriptEngine` whose Bindings, Reader and Writers are used for script executions when no `ScriptContext` is specified.
    Returns:
      The default `ScriptContext` of the `ScriptEngine`.

  - ### setContext

    void setContext(ScriptContext context)
    Sets the default `ScriptContext` of the `ScriptEngine` whose Bindings, Reader and Writers are used for script executions when no `ScriptContext` is specified.
    Parameters:
      `context` - A `ScriptContext` that will replace the default `ScriptContext` in the `ScriptEngine`.
    Throws:
      `NullPointerException` - if context is null.

  - ### getFactory

    ScriptEngineFactory getFactory()
    Returns a `ScriptEngineFactory` for the class to which this `ScriptEngine` belongs.
    Returns:
      The `ScriptEngineFactory`