[[modules-scripting]]
== Scripting

The scripting module allows to use scripts in order to evaluate custom
expressions. For example, scripts can be used to return "script fields"
as part of a search request, or can be used to evaluate a custom score
for a query and so on.

The scripting module uses by default http://mvel.codehaus.org/[mvel] as
the scripting language with some extensions. mvel is used since it is
extremely fast and very simple to use, and in most cases, simple
expressions are needed (for example, mathematical equations).

Additional `lang` plugins are provided to allow to execute scripts in
different languages. Currently supported plugins are `lang-javascript`
for JavaScript, `lang-groovy` for Groovy, and `lang-python` for Python.
All places where a `script` parameter can be used, a `lang` parameter
(on the same level) can be provided to define the language of the
script. The `lang` options are `mvel`, `js`, `groovy`, `python`, and
`native`.

[float]
=== Default Scripting Language

The default scripting language (assuming no `lang` parameter is
provided) is `mvel`. In order to change it set the `script.default_lang`
to the appropriate language.

[float]
=== Preloaded Scripts

Scripts can always be provided as part of the relevant API, but they can
also be preloaded by placing them under `config/scripts` and then
referencing them by the script name (instead of providing the full
script). This helps reduce the amount of data passed between the client
and the nodes.

The name of the script is derived from the hierarchy of directories it
exists under, and the file name without the lang extension. For example,
a script placed under `config/scripts/group1/group2/test.py` will be
named `group1_group2_test`.

[float]
=== Disabling dynamic scripts

We recommend running Elasticsearch behind an application or proxy,
which protects Elasticsearch from the outside world. If users are
allowed to run dynamic scripts (even in a search request), then they
have the same access to your box as the user that Elasticsearch is
running as.

First, you should not run Elasticsearch as the `root` user, as this
would allow a script to access or do *anything* on your server, without
limitations. Second, you should not expose Elasticsearch directly to
users, but instead have a proxy application inbetween.  If you *do*
intend to expose Elasticsearch directly to your users, then you have
to decide whether you trust them enough to run scripts on your box or
not. If not, then even if you have a proxy which only allows `GET`
requests, you should disable dynamic scripting by adding the following
setting to the `config/elasticsearch.yml` file on every node:

[source,yaml]
-----------------------------------
script.disable_dynamic: true
-----------------------------------

This will still allow execution of named scripts provided in the config, or
_native_ Java scripts registered through plugins, however it will prevent
users from running arbitrary scripts via the API.

[float]
=== Automatic Script Reloading

added[0.90.6]

The `config/scripts` directory is scanned periodically for changes.
New and changed scripts are reloaded and deleted script are removed
from preloaded scripts cache. The reload frequency can be specified
using `watcher.interval` setting, which defaults to `60s`.
To disable script reloading completely set `script.auto_reload_enabled`
to `false`.

[float]
=== Native (Java) Scripts

Even though `mvel` is pretty fast, allow to register native Java based
scripts for faster execution.

In order to allow for scripts, the `NativeScriptFactory` needs to be
implemented that constructs the script that will be executed. There are
two main types, one that extends `AbstractExecutableScript` and one that
extends `AbstractSearchScript` (probably the one most users will extend,
with additional helper classes in `AbstractLongSearchScript`,
`AbstractDoubleSearchScript`, and `AbstractFloatSearchScript`).

Registering them can either be done by settings, for example:
`script.native.my.type` set to `sample.MyNativeScriptFactory` will
register a script named `my`. Another option is in a plugin, access
`ScriptModule` and call `registerScript` on it.

Executing the script is done by specifying the `lang` as `native`, and
the name of the script as the `script`.

Note, the scripts need to be in the classpath of elasticsearch. One
simple way to do it is to create a directory under plugins (choose a
descriptive name), and place the jar / classes files there, they will be
automatically loaded.

[float]
=== Score

In all scripts that can be used in facets, allow to access the current
doc score using `doc.score`.

[float]
=== Document Fields

Most scripting revolve around the use of specific document fields data.
The `doc['field_name']` can be used to access specific field data within
a document (the document in question is usually derived by the context
the script is used). Document fields are very fast to access since they
end up being loaded into memory (all the relevant field values/tokens
are loaded to memory).

The following data can be extracted from a field:

[cols="<,<",options="header",]
|=======================================================================
|Expression |Description
|`doc['field_name'].value` |The native value of the field. For example,
if its a short type, it will be short.

|`doc['field_name'].values` |The native array values of the field. For
example, if its a short type, it will be short[]. Remember, a field can
have several values within a single doc. Returns an empty array if the
field has no values.

|`doc['field_name'].empty` |A boolean indicating if the field has no
values within the doc.

|`doc['field_name'].multiValued` |A boolean indicating that the field
has several values within the corpus.

|`doc['field_name'].lat` |The latitude of a geo point type.

|`doc['field_name'].lon` |The longitude of a geo point type.

|`doc['field_name'].lats` |The latitudes of a geo point type.

|`doc['field_name'].lons` |The longitudes of a geo point type.

|`doc['field_name'].distance(lat, lon)` |The `plane` distance (in miles)
of this geo point field from the provided lat/lon.

|`doc['field_name'].arcDistance(lat, lon)` |The `arc` distance (in
miles) of this geo point field from the provided lat/lon.

|`doc['field_name'].distanceInKm(lat, lon)` |The `plane` distance (in
km) of this geo point field from the provided lat/lon.

|`doc['field_name'].arcDistanceInKm(lat, lon)` |The `arc` distance (in
km) of this geo point field from the provided lat/lon.

|`doc['field_name'].geohashDistance(geohash)` |The distance (in miles)
of this geo point field from the provided geohash.

|`doc['field_name'].geohashDistanceInKm(geohash)` |The distance (in km)
of this geo point field from the provided geohash.
|=======================================================================

[float]
=== Stored Fields

Stored fields can also be accessed when executed a script. Note, they
are much slower to access compared with document fields, but are not
loaded into memory. They can be simply accessed using
`_fields['my_field_name'].value` or `_fields['my_field_name'].values`.

[float]
=== Source Field

The source field can also be accessed when executing a script. The
source field is loaded per doc, parsed, and then provided to the script
for evaluation. The `_source` forms the context under which the source
field can be accessed, for example `_source.obj2.obj1.field3`.

Accessing `_source` is much slower compared to using `_doc`
but the data is not loaded into memory. For a single field access `_fields` may be
faster than using `_source` due to the extra overhead of potentially parsing large documents.
However, `_source` may be faster if you access multiple fields or if the source has already been
loaded for other purposes.

[float]
=== mvel Built In Functions

There are several built in functions that can be used within scripts.
They include:

[cols="<,<",options="header",]
|=======================================================================
|Function |Description
|`time()` |The current time in milliseconds.

|`sin(a)` |Returns the trigonometric sine of an angle.

|`cos(a)` |Returns the trigonometric cosine of an angle.

|`tan(a)` |Returns the trigonometric tangent of an angle.

|`asin(a)` |Returns the arc sine of a value.

|`acos(a)` |Returns the arc cosine of a value.

|`atan(a)` |Returns the arc tangent of a value.

|`toRadians(angdeg)` |Converts an angle measured in degrees to an
approximately equivalent angle measured in radians

|`toDegrees(angrad)` |Converts an angle measured in radians to an
approximately equivalent angle measured in degrees.

|`exp(a)` |Returns Euler's number _e_ raised to the power of value.

|`log(a)` |Returns the natural logarithm (base _e_) of a value.

|`log10(a)` |Returns the base 10 logarithm of a value.

|`sqrt(a)` |Returns the correctly rounded positive square root of a
value.

|`cbrt(a)` |Returns the cube root of a double value.

|`IEEEremainder(f1, f2)` |Computes the remainder operation on two
arguments as prescribed by the IEEE 754 standard.

|`ceil(a)` |Returns the smallest (closest to negative infinity) value
that is greater than or equal to the argument and is equal to a
mathematical integer.

|`floor(a)` |Returns the largest (closest to positive infinity) value
that is less than or equal to the argument and is equal to a
mathematical integer.

|`rint(a)` |Returns the value that is closest in value to the argument
and is equal to a mathematical integer.

|`atan2(y, x)` |Returns the angle _theta_ from the conversion of
rectangular coordinates (_x_, _y_) to polar coordinates (r,_theta_).

|`pow(a, b)` |Returns the value of the first argument raised to the
power of the second argument.

|`round(a)` |Returns the closest _int_ to the argument.

|`random()` |Returns a random _double_ value.

|`abs(a)` |Returns the absolute value of a value.

|`max(a, b)` |Returns the greater of two values.

|`min(a, b)` |Returns the smaller of two values.

|`ulp(d)` |Returns the size of an ulp of the argument.

|`signum(d)` |Returns the signum function of the argument.

|`sinh(x)` |Returns the hyperbolic sine of a value.

|`cosh(x)` |Returns the hyperbolic cosine of a value.

|`tanh(x)` |Returns the hyperbolic tangent of a value.

|`hypot(x, y)` |Returns sqrt(_x2_ + _y2_) without intermediate overflow
or underflow.
|=======================================================================

[float]
=== Arithmetic precision in MVEL

When dividing two numbers using MVEL based scripts, the engine tries to
be smart and adheres to the default behaviour of java. This means if you
divide two integers (you might have configured the fields as integer in
the mapping), the result will also be an integer. This means, if a
calculation like `1/num` is happening in your scripts and `num` is an
integer with the value of `8`, the result is `0` even though you were
expecting it to be `0.125`. You may need to enforce precision by
explicitly using a double like `1.0/num` in order to get the expected
result.