Language

Lua

Lightweight programming language

1993Appeared

dynamic typing, duck typing, strong typingType system

5.5.1Latest version

9Languages it influenced

Facts

Appeared: 1993
Type system: dynamic typing, duck typing, strong typing
Latest version: 5.5.1 (July 24, 2026)
Languages it influenced: 9
Paradigms: procedural programming, prototype-based programming, functional programming, imperative programming, multi-paradigm programming, object-oriented programming
Designed by: Roberto Ierusalimschy
Developer: Roberto Ierusalimschy
Influenced by: Simple Object Language, DEL, Scheme, C++, Modula, SNOBOL, CLU, Modula-2
Implemented in: C
File extensions: .anair .lua .luna .lunaire
Licence: MIT License
Operating system: cross-platform
Influences listed: 8

Framework	Kind	Licence
Amazon Lumberyard	game engine	—
AMETEK Crank	widget toolkit, embedded system, software development kit, business, graphical widget, subsidiary company, software, application framework, graphical user interface	—
CryEngine	game engine	end-user license agreement
GrimE	game engine	—
Hedgehog Engine	software engine	—
INSTEAD	game engine	MIT License, GNU General Public License
Kepler	web framework	MIT License
Lapis	web framework, free and open-source software	MIT License
Luanti	application software, game engine, free software, game creation system	Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported, GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1 or later
Open 3D Engine	application software, game engine, free and open-source software, source-available software, software	Apache Software License 2.0, MIT License
OpenRA	game engine recreation	GNU General Public License, version 3.0
Spring Engine	game engine	GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later
Stone Kingdoms	game engine recreation	Apache Software License 2.0
Telltale Tool	game engine	proprietary license
Torch	machine learning framework, free and open-source software	3-clause BSD License

Language	Appeared	Paradigms	Type system	Languages it influenced
Croc	2006	—	—	—
Dragon	2018	procedural programming, imperative programming, object-oriented programming, dynamic programming	dynamic typing	—
Io	2002	prototype-based programming, object-oriented programming	dynamic typing, strong typing	3
JavaScript	1995	generic programming, event-driven programming, prototype-based programming, functional programming, imperative programming, aspect-oriented programming	dynamic typing, prototype-based programming, duck typing	25
Micro Lua DS	2008	—	—	—
Red	2011	functional programming, imperative programming, multi-paradigm programming	—	—
Ring	2016	procedural programming, functional programming, imperative programming, declarative programming, object-oriented programming	dynamic typing, duck typing	—
Ruby	1995	reflective programming, functional programming, imperative programming, object-oriented programming	dynamic typing, duck typing, strong typing	11
Squirrel	2003	procedural programming, imperative programming, class-based programming, object-oriented programming	dynamic typing	1

Language	Appeared	Paradigms	Type system	Languages it influenced
3DMLW	—	—	—	—
Céu	—	event-driven programming, synchronous programming, reactive programming, structured concurrency	—	—

Language	Appeared	Paradigms	Type system	Languages it influenced
Luau	—	—	—	—