A userscript (or user script) is a program, usually written in
JavaScript
JavaScript (), often abbreviated as JS, is a programming language and core technology of the World Wide Web, alongside HTML and CSS. Ninety-nine percent of websites use JavaScript on the client side for webpage behavior.
Web browsers have ...
, for modifying
web page
A web page (or webpage) is a World Wide Web, Web document that is accessed in a web browser. A website typically consists of many web pages hyperlink, linked together under a common domain name. The term "web page" is therefore a metaphor of pap ...
s to
augment browsing. Uses include adding shortcut buttons and keyboard shortcuts, controlling playback speeds, adding features to sites, and enhancing the
browsing history
Web browsing history refers to the list of web pages a user has visited, as well as associated metadata such as page title and time of visit. It is usually stored locally by web browsers in order to provide the user with a history list to go back ...
.
On desktop browsers such as Firefox, userscripts are enabled by use of a
userscript manager browser extension
A browser extension is a software module for customizing a web browser. Browsers typically allow users to install a variety of extensions, including user interface modifications, cookie management, ad blocking, and the custom scripting and st ...
such as
Tampermonkey
Tampermonkey is a closed-source donationware userscript manager that is available as a browser extension. This software enables the user to add and use userscripts, which are JavaScript programs that can be used to modify web pages.
History
Tamp ...
or
Greasemonkey. The Presto-based Opera-supported userscripts (referred to as User JavaScript) are placed in a designated directory. Userscripts are often referred to as
Greasemonkey scripts, named after the original userscript manager for Firefox.
On Wikipedia, a
user scripts feature is enabled for registered users that allows them to install userscripts to augment editing and viewing of the encyclopedia's pages.
Userscript managers
A
userscript manager is a type of browser extension and augmented browsing technology that provides a user interface to manage scripts. The main purpose of a userscript manager is to execute scripts on webpages as they are loaded. The most common operations performed by a userscript manager include downloading, creating, installing, organizing, deleting and editing scripts, as well as modifying script permissions (e.g. website exceptions).
Userscript repositories
One aspect of userscripts is that they can be shared. They can be uploaded to a userscript repository where they become available to other users for downloading.
Historically (circa 2005–2011) userscripts.org, created by American programmer Jesse Andrews, was the largest such repository for userscripts. Over time, the site was transitioned between various maintainers before it went offline completely in May 2014. All that remains is a mirror, which is useful for archival purposes.
A handful of the most active contributors in the userscripts.org community created ''OpenUserJS'', which is actively in use today. Also available is ''Greasy Fork'', a repository largely developed and maintained by Canadian programmer Jason Barnabe.
Users of the
Greasemonkey and
Tampermonkey
Tampermonkey is a closed-source donationware userscript manager that is available as a browser extension. This software enables the user to add and use userscripts, which are JavaScript programs that can be used to modify web pages.
History
Tamp ...
extensions may choose to install scripts from any location.
See also
*
List of augmented browsing software
*
Scripting language
In computing, a script is a relatively short and simple set of instructions that typically automation, automate an otherwise manual process. The act of writing a script is called scripting. A scripting language or script language is a programming ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Greasy ForkOpenUserJSUserscripts.org archival mirrorGreasespot.net, official website for Greasemonkey (Firefox extension)
JavaScript