compact1, compact2, compact3
javax.script

## Interface ScriptContext

- All Known Implementing Classes:
    SimpleScriptContext

      public interface ScriptContext

  The interface whose implementing classes are used to connect Script Engines with objects, such as scoped Bindings, in hosting applications. Each scope is a set of named attributes whose values can be set and retrieved using the `ScriptContext` methods. ScriptContexts also expose Readers and Writers that can be used by the ScriptEngines for input and output.
  Since:
    1.6

- - ### Field Summary

    Fields
    Modifier and Type | Field | Description
    --- | --- | ---
    `static int` | `ENGINE_SCOPE` | EngineScope attributes are visible during the lifetime of a single `ScriptEngine` and a set of attributes is maintained for each engine.
    `static int` | `GLOBAL_SCOPE` | GlobalScope attributes are visible to all engines created by same ScriptEngineFactory.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method | Description
    --- | --- | ---
    `Object` | `getAttribute(String name)` | Retrieves the value of the attribute with the given name in the scope occurring earliest in the search order.
    `Object` | `getAttribute(String name, int scope)` | Gets the value of an attribute in a given scope.
    `int` | `getAttributesScope(String name)` | Get the lowest scope in which an attribute is defined.
    `Bindings` | `getBindings(int scope)` | Gets the `Bindings` associated with the given scope in this `ScriptContext`.
    `Writer` | `getErrorWriter()` | Returns the `Writer` used to display error output.
    `Reader` | `getReader()` | Returns a `Reader` to be used by the script to read input.
    `List<Integer>` | `getScopes()` | Returns immutable `List` of all the valid values for scope in the ScriptContext.
    `Writer` | `getWriter()` | Returns the `Writer` for scripts to use when displaying output.
    `Object` | `removeAttribute(String name, int scope)` | Remove an attribute in a given scope.
    `void` | `setAttribute(String name, Object value, int scope)` | Sets the value of an attribute in a given scope.
    `void` | `setBindings(Bindings bindings, int scope)` | Associates a `Bindings` instance with a particular scope in this `ScriptContext`.
    `void` | `setErrorWriter(Writer writer)` | Sets the `Writer` used to display error output.
    `void` | `setReader(Reader reader)` | Sets the `Reader` for scripts to read input .
    `void` | `setWriter(Writer writer)` | Sets the `Writer` for scripts to use when displaying output.

- - ### Field Detail

    - #### ENGINE_SCOPE

          static final int ENGINE_SCOPE

      EngineScope attributes are visible during the lifetime of a single `ScriptEngine` and a set of attributes is maintained for each engine.
      See Also:
        Constant Field Values

    - #### GLOBAL_SCOPE

          static final int GLOBAL_SCOPE

      GlobalScope attributes are visible to all engines created by same ScriptEngineFactory.
      See Also:
        Constant Field Values

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### setBindings

          void setBindings(Bindings bindings,
                           int scope)

      Associates a `Bindings` instance with a particular scope in this `ScriptContext`. Calls to the `getAttribute` and `setAttribute` methods must map to the `get` and `put` methods of the `Bindings` for the specified scope.
      Parameters:
        `bindings` - The `Bindings` to associate with the given scope
        `scope` - The scope
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - If no `Bindings` is defined for the specified scope value in ScriptContexts of this type.
        `NullPointerException` - if value of scope is `ENGINE_SCOPE` and the specified `Bindings` is null.

    - #### getBindings

          Bindings getBindings(int scope)

      Gets the `Bindings` associated with the given scope in this `ScriptContext`.
      Parameters:
        `scope` - The scope
      Returns:
        The associated `Bindings`. Returns `null` if it has not been set.
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - If no `Bindings` is defined for the specified scope value in `ScriptContext` of this type.

    - #### setAttribute

          void setAttribute(String name,
                            Object value,
                            int scope)

      Sets the value of an attribute in a given scope.
      Parameters:
        `name` - The name of the attribute to set
        `value` - The value of the attribute
        `scope` - The scope in which to set the attribute
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if the name is empty or if the scope is invalid.
        `NullPointerException` - if the name is null.

    - #### getAttribute

          Object getAttribute(String name,
                              int scope)

      Gets the value of an attribute in a given scope.
      Parameters:
        `name` - The name of the attribute to retrieve.
        `scope` - The scope in which to retrieve the attribute.
      Returns:
        The value of the attribute. Returns `null` is the name does not exist in the given scope.
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if the name is empty or if the value of scope is invalid.
        `NullPointerException` - if the name is null.

    - #### removeAttribute

          Object removeAttribute(String name,
                                 int scope)

      Remove an attribute in a given scope.
      Parameters:
        `name` - The name of the attribute to remove
        `scope` - The scope in which to remove the attribute
      Returns:
        The removed value.
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if the name is empty or if the scope is invalid.
        `NullPointerException` - if the name is null.

    - #### getAttribute

          Object getAttribute(String name)

      Retrieves the value of the attribute with the given name in the scope occurring earliest in the search order. The order is determined by the numeric value of the scope parameter (lowest scope values first.)
      Parameters:
        `name` - The name of the the attribute to retrieve.
      Returns:
        The value of the attribute in the lowest scope for which an attribute with the given name is defined. Returns null if no attribute with the name exists in any scope.
      Throws:
        `NullPointerException` - if the name is null.
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if the name is empty.

    - #### getAttributesScope

          int getAttributesScope(String name)

      Get the lowest scope in which an attribute is defined.
      Parameters:
        `name` - Name of the attribute .
      Returns:
        The lowest scope. Returns -1 if no attribute with the given name is defined in any scope.
      Throws:
        `NullPointerException` - if name is null.
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if name is empty.

    - #### getWriter

          Writer getWriter()

      Returns the `Writer` for scripts to use when displaying output.
      Returns:
        The `Writer`.

    - #### getErrorWriter

          Writer getErrorWriter()

      Returns the `Writer` used to display error output.
      Returns:
        The `Writer`

    - #### setWriter

          void setWriter(Writer writer)

      Sets the `Writer` for scripts to use when displaying output.
      Parameters:
        `writer` - The new `Writer`.

    - #### setErrorWriter

          void setErrorWriter(Writer writer)

      Sets the `Writer` used to display error output.
      Parameters:
        `writer` - The `Writer`.

    - #### getReader

          Reader getReader()

      Returns a `Reader` to be used by the script to read input.
      Returns:
        The `Reader`.

    - #### setReader

          void setReader(Reader reader)

      Sets the `Reader` for scripts to read input .
      Parameters:
        `reader` - The new `Reader`.

    - #### getScopes

          List<Integer> getScopes()

      Returns immutable `List` of all the valid values for scope in the ScriptContext.
      Returns:
        list of scope values

Submit a bug or feature
For further API reference and developer documentation, see Java SE Documentation. That documentation contains more detailed, developer-targeted descriptions, with conceptual overviews, definitions of terms, workarounds, and working code examples.
Copyright © 1993, 2026, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Use is subject to license terms. Also see the documentation redistribution policy.