What is a server-side script?

A server-side script is executed by the web server before the web page is sent to the user's computer. This process is essential because it allows the server to dynamically generate content based on user requests, access databases, and perform various actions based on the logic written within the script.

When a client makes a request for a webpage, the server interprets the server-side script written in languages like PHP, Ruby, or Python, processes any necessary data (e.g., querying a database), and then sends the generated HTML page to the client's browser. This means that the client never sees the script itself; they only receive the output that the script generates.

The other choices touch on different concepts but do not accurately describe what a server-side script is. For instance, a client-side script runs in the user's browser and handles interactions directly without needing to communicate back to the server until necessary. A script that only runs when a user clicks a button is usually tied to client-side scripting and does not reflect the broader function of server-side scripts. While server-side scripts can manipulate databases, stating that they only manipulate databases does not encompass their full role in generating web page content dynamically.