Which type of language is used for automating tasks and running scripts rather than creating standalone applications?

Scripting languages are specifically designed to automate tasks and facilitate the execution of scripts. They are typically interpreted rather than compiled, allowing for a quick and flexible development process. This simplicity enables users to write short programs that can manipulate data, control other software applications, or automate repetitive tasks quickly.

Scripting languages often come with standard libraries and frameworks that make it easy to perform a variety of functions without needing to write extensive code, making them particularly well-suited for tasks such as web development, system administration, and data manipulation. Examples of commonly used scripting languages include Python, JavaScript, Perl, and Bash.

In contrast, compiled languages are designed to create standalone applications that can be executed directly by the system, while markup languages focus on structuring and presenting data (like HTML), and machine language consists of binary code that the computer's hardware can execute directly.