Perl is a general-purpose programming language often used for scripting CGI, GUI development, web development, system administration, and various other applications. In the job market, most requests for familiarity with this language refer specifically to your ability to implement and use Perl 5, the primary iteration of the language. Perl 6 is a more recent language, but only one part of it is actively being developed, and it is not yet ready for use by most companies. Perl was first released for computer systems in late 1987, and the owners have continued to actively develop it ever since. Perl emphasizes creating solutions for problems, making it a popular choice as a glue language.