Understanding the ActionScript Language > Understanding ActionScript overview |  |

Understanding ActionScript overview

ActionScript, the scripting language of Macromedia Flash MX, allows you to create a movie that behaves exactly as you want. You don't need to understand every ActionScript element to begin scripting; if you have a clear goal, you can start building scripts with simple actions. You can incorporate new elements of the language as you learn them to accomplish more complicated tasks.

Like other scripting languages, ActionScript follows its own rules of syntax, reserves keywords, provides operators, and allows you to use variables to store and retrieve information. ActionScript includes built-in objects and functions and allows you to create your own objects and functions.

The ActionScript syntax and style closely resemble that of JavaScript. Flash MX understands ActionScript written in any previous version of Flash.

This chapter introduces you to ActionScript as an object-oriented scripting language and provides an overview of ActionScript terms and basic programming concepts such as functions, variables, statements, operators, conditionals, and loops. It also deconstructs a sample script so that you can begin to understand ActionScript syntax. The online ActionScript Dictionary contains a detailed entry for every ActionScript element.

To begin scripting with ActionScript right away, complete the ActionScript tutorial (Help > Tutorials > Introduction to ActionScript).