.PL File Extension

PL files exist as 3 different types. Please find information about each of them below.

Type 1: Perl Script

General Information

Title PL File Extension
Extension .pl
Full Form Perl Script File
File Type Script/Text File
Developer Larry Wall
MIME Type text/plain

File Function

Primary Function Execute code
Additional Functions Text processing, Automation
Features Interpreted, Cross-platform

File Characteristics

Quality Depends on code
Supports Layers N/A
Supports Transparency N/A
Editable Yes

Use Cases

System Administration Yes
Web Development Yes
Data Parsing Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks Code injection, Execution
Best Practices Taint checking, Strict/warnings

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release 1987
Latest Version Perl 5.34 (2021)

Associated Types

Similar Extensions .pm, .cgi, .pod

Software Compatibility

Software Usage Policy OS Compatibility
Perl Interpreter Free Windows, Mac, Linux, UNIX
Strawberry Perl Free Windows
Padre IDE Free Windows, Mac, Linux

Type 2: Prolog Source Code File

A PL file contains Perl source code. It has variables, operations, functions and comments. PL files may be hard to read due to brief Perl syntax. Programmers open and edit PL files with source code ...

General Information

Title PL File Extension
Extension .pl
Full Form Prolog Source Code File
File Type Source Code File
Developer Alain Colmerauer, Robert Kowalski
MIME Type text/plain

File Function

Primary Function Contain source code
Additional Functions Executable by Prolog interpreter
Features Logic-based, Symbolic computation

File Characteristics

Quality Depends on code
Supports Layers N/A
Supports Transparency N/A
Editable Yes

Use Cases

Artificial Intelligence Yes
Academic Research Yes
Data Mining Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks Code injection
Best Practices Input validation, Secure coding

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release 1970s
Latest Version Depends on implementation

Associated Types

Similar Extensions .pro, .P

Software Compatibility

Software Usage Policy OS Compatibility
SWI-Prolog Free Windows, Mac, Linux
GNU Prolog Free Windows, Mac, Linux
SICStus Prolog Commercial Windows, Mac, Linux

Type 3: Unix Color Plot File

This file has .pl extension. It is mainly Perl Script file. Perl Script contains Perl program code. Programmers use it for various purposes. These include web development, system administration, app d...

General Information

Title PL File Extension
Extension .pl
Full Form Unix Color Plot File
File Type Plotting Data File
Developer Various Unix Systems
MIME Type application/x-perl

File Function

Primary Function Store plotting instructions
Additional Functions Data visualization, Graph generation
Features Color support, Coordinate data

File Characteristics

Quality Precision plotting
Supports Layers No
Supports Transparency No
Editable Text editor

Use Cases

Scientific Research Yes
Data Analysis Yes
Engineering Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks Script execution
Best Practices Validation, Safe sources

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release Varies by software
Latest Version Depends on software

Associated Types

Similar Extensions .gp, .gpi, .gnuplot

Software Compatibility

Software Usage Policy OS Compatibility
GNUplot Free Unix, Windows, macOS
Kermit Free, Open Source Unix, VMS, DOS, Windows, macOS