What is Rhai
============

{{#include ../links.md}}

![Rhai Logo]({{rootUrl}}/images/rhai_logo.png)

Rhai is an embedded scripting language and evaluation engine for Rust that gives a safe and easy way
to add scripting to any application.


Versions
--------

This Book is for version **{{version}}** of Rhai.

{% if rootUrl != "" and not rootUrl is ending_with("vnext") %}
For the latest development version, see [here]({{rootUrl}}/vnext/).
{% endif %}


Etymology of the name "Rhai"
---------------------------

### As per Rhai's author Johnathan Turner

In the beginning there was [ChaiScript](http://chaiscript.com),
which is an embedded scripting language for C++.
Originally it was intended to be a scripting language similar to **JavaScript**.

With java being a kind of hot beverage, the new language was named after
another hot beverage - **Chai**, which is the word for "tea" in many world languages
and, in particular, a popular kind of milk tea consumed in India.

Later, when the novel implementation technique behind ChaiScript was ported from C++ to Rust,
logically the `C` was changed to an `R` to make it "RhaiScript", or just "Rhai".

### On the origin of the temporary Rhai logo

One of Rhai's maintainers, Stephen Chung, was thinking about a logo when he accidentally
came across a copy of _Catcher in the Rye_ in a restaurant.  The rest was history.

It is temporary until it becomes official, that is...