Server-side vs Client-side Scripting

Server-side - a web server technology in which a user's request is fulfilled by running a script directly on the web server to generate dynamic web pages. It is usually used to provide interactive web sites that interface to databases or other data stores.

1. ASP/ASP.NET (*.asp/*.aspx) - (Microsoft proprietary)
2. ColdFusion Markup Language (*.cfm) - (Adobe proprietary, formerly Macromedia)
3. ANSI C Server Scripts TrustLeap G-WAN ANSI C Scripts (*.c) - (TrustLeap G-WAN, freeware)
4. Java via JavaServer Pages (*.jsp)
5. Javascript using Server Side Javascript (*.ssjs)
6. PHP (*.php) - (open source)
7. Perl (*.pl) - (open source)
8. SMX (*.smx)
9. Python (*.py) - (open source)
10. Ruby (*.rb) - (open source)
11. Lasso (*.lasso)
12. WebDNA (*.dna,*.tpl)

Client-side - a scripts are run by the viewing web browser.

1. AJAX Provides new methods of using JavaScript, server side languages (eg ASP.Net or PHP) and other languages to improve the user experience.
2. Flash Adobe Flash Player is a ubiquitous client-side platform ready for RIAs. Flex 2 is also deployed to the Flash Player (version 9+).
3. JavaScript Formally called ECMAScript, JavaScript is a ubiquitous client side programming tool.
4. JavaFX is a software platform for creating and delivering rich Web applications that can also run across a wide variety of devices.
5. Microsoft Silverlight Microsoft's browser plugin that enables animation, vector graphics and high-definition video playback, programmed using XAML and .NET programming languages.

The primary advantage to server-side scripting is the ability to highly customize the response based on the user's requirements, access rights, or queries into data stores.

Source from Wikipedia