.WS File Extension
Windows Script
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Popularity |
3.8 | 28 Votes |
What is a WS file?
A WS file contains an executable script that can be run via the Windows Script Host. The script may be comprised of various types of routines and elements, including JScript and VBScript routines and XML elements. When you double-click a WS file, the Windows Script Host will automatically run the script the file contains.
More Information
The Windows Script Host is a tool that system administrators can use to automate a variety of login and administrative actions. To do so, administrators create and run Windows Scripts, which may be saved as WS files.
WS files are plain text files. Notably, WS files can include routines written using JScript, VBScript, BASIC, Perl, Python, and many other programming languages. To create WS files, administrators use Microsoft Notepad, Microsoft Visual Studio Code, or another text editor.
NOTE: Windows Scripts are more commonly saved as .WSF files.
How to open a WS file
If you want to view or edit a WS file's contents, you can open it with Microsoft Notepad, Microsoft Visual Studio Code, or any other text editor.
In Windows, you can run the script a WS file contains by double-clicking the file or using the wscript command-line command (as described here.)
Warning
Do not double-click a WS file that you receive as an email attachment or from an untrusted source. Because Windows automatically runs WS files when users double-click them, cybercriminals sometimes use WS files to attack users' computers.
Programs that open WS files
Whitespace Source Code
| Developer | Edwin Brady and Chris Morris |
| Popularity |
3.0 | 2 Votes |
A WS file may also be a program written in the Whitespace programming language. It contains Whitespace source code, which consists of spaces, tabs, and linefeeds (whitespace characters). WS files also often contain comments written using letters, numbers, and other non-whitespace characters.
More Information
Whitespace is a programming language developed by Edwin Brady and Chris Morris. The Whitespace interpreter ignores any non-whitespace characters, so Whitespace programs are written using only spaces, tabs, and linefeeds, which the interpreter reads as either commands or data. Commands are written using preset sequences of spaces, tabs, and linefeeds. Other data is written in binary, using spaces as 0s and tabs as 1s.
While Whitespace is not used for serious development, some developers enjoy developing within the language's limitations and creating fun Whitespace programs. These developers may save their Whitespace programs as WS files.
How to open a WS file
You can open and edit a WS file in any text or source code editor, such as Microsoft Visual Studio Code. Keep in mind that, because Whitespace programs are written using only whitespace characters, your WS file may appear empty. You can run the program a WS file contains using a Whitespace interpreter.