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JavaScript

Vincent Asta
Vincent Asta
2,330 Points
Posted by Vincent Asta
Vincent Asta
2,330 Points

Can I use JavaScript to interact with Perl on a web server?

Is it possible to have a web server execute a Perl script using a js variable captured from a prompt to a user?

For example: 1.) Web page (with .js file) is loaded on end user's machine 2.) .js prompts user for a variable 3.) variable 'blah' is captured 4.) Perl script is then executed with blah passed to it 5.) The result from that Perl script is returned to the web page for the user to view (alert, another page, etc.)

I'm hoping this makes some sense, not sure if I am formulating the question correctly, or if there is more info I can provide which would be helpful.

I just wanted to know if I am 'on the right track' so-to-speak, or if I should go down another track, i.e. PHP, RoR, etc.

1 Answer

Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw
26,676 Points
Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw
26,676 Points

Hi Vincent,

First off just a quick FYI that w/ is short for without, I've updated your posts title so it's not confusing.

To answer your question yes you can absolutely use JavaScript to make requests to any back end language such as perl, in your JavaScript you need to make what's known as an XMLHttpRequest which built into all browsers the same way as of IE9.

I'm typing this on my mobile so it's a bit hard to get some running examples but if you see the below link it has a lot of useful information until I get into work.

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/XMLHttpRequest/Using_XMLHttpRequest

Vincent Asta
Vincent Asta
2,330 Points
Vincent Asta
Vincent Asta
2,330 Points

Hello Chris,

I updated the title of my post to make it more clear, thanks for the feedback.

Thanks for the reply on usage of JavaScript. I'll check this link out to see what is behind making this work. If you did come across a working example, I would appreciate it very much.

Iain Simmons
Iain Simmons
Treehouse Moderator 32,305 Points

Slightly off-topic, but w/ is short for 'with', w/o is short for without... :)