Perl version 5 is:

A powerful, portable, semi-compiled (bytecode interpreted), C-like, general purpose programming language. It's major features include, concise high-level syntax, extensive built-in/CORE functionality, powerful and concise regular expression engine for text manipulation, and a huge freely usable and distributable library of modular extensions for almost any purpose imaginable. This combination of features allows its use for the rapid development, testing and maintainance of many types of applications, especially text, web, database and system-administration applications using either procedural or OO-syntax. It is easy to use, but like most complex things, requires training and/ or practice to use well.