Lua Help

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Roblox Lua
Making your maps do crazy things

This page provides tutorials to help users to learn Lua. Be sure to read everything to best understand the concept of scripting. Scripting requires dedication, discipline, and lots of hard and long thinking.

Lua (not "LUA") is a simple programming language that is used in Roblox to create customized content. Some of these things could be: cars that drive, weapons, planes, random terrain, gamemodes, and much more!

There are often multiple tutorials on the same subject. If you don't understand something in one of them, try another!

If you still don't understand something, you can ask at Scripting Helpers. Note that you're more likely to get an answer if you ask a specific question than something general, and that if you have a problem with a piece of code, posting the code really helps people to find what the problem is. Posts just asking "How do I script?" or "Make me this" are usually ignored.

Introduction series - read these first!

Script Creation WalkthroughCreating and running scripts.

FlowchartsUsing diagrams to show the "flow" of a script.

Basic MathWorking with numbers in a script.

StringsWorking with text in a script.

BooleansWorking with yes/no values in a script.

VariablesHow to hold data in a static reference.

Conditional StatementsMaking scripts do different things in different situations.

LoopsMaking a piece of code run multiple times.

FunctionsWrapping code in a useful function to be called upon later in a script.

TablesStoring multiple objects as one variable.

Generic forUsing a loop to iterate through a table.

Other Lua Guides

Beginner's Guide to ScriptingIf you've never worked with scripting before, look here.

Basic ScriptingShows you some of the basics of scripting.

How to Script AnythingLearn the basic methods to put together any script.

In-Depth Scripting GuideMore ways to understand the dynamics of Lua.

Programming In LuaGuide to Lua by its creators. (partly out of date)

Introductions to Concepts

What are GUIs?This very in-depth guide explains what GUIs are.

Intro to WeaponsAn intro into the scripting of Weapons in Roblox.

Data PersistenceWhat is data persistence?

Data Persistence TutorialA tutorial on understanding and using data persistence in your places.

Using Vector3 ValuesShows how to use math with Vector3s.

LeaderboardsCreating your own leaderboards.

Random NumbersStopping the same thing from happening each time.

PluginsShows how you can make your own Roblox Studio toolbars and buttons.

ToolsCreating your own tools.

HopperBinsThe older version of tools, HopperBins.

Using String PatternsWhat string patterns are and how to use them.

EventsHow to use Roblox events.

What is Debounce?Explains what a debounce is, and what it's used for.

Reference

ScriptingAn overview of scripting in Roblox, and a portal for in-depth articles.

FunctionsA list of all the global functions.

Class ReferenceAll the types of Roblox Instances.

Lua 5.1 Reference ManualOfficial definition of the Lua language. (some features not available in Roblox)

Roblox LibrariesAn explanation of and reference to Roblox Libraries.

Examples and Other Roblox Guides

CookbookLarge list of small example scripts

Creating a BrickBasic tutorial on creating a brick using a script.

Creating Restricted DoorsShows how to create a door that only certain people can enter.

One-way DoorsHow to create doors that go only one direction.

How to TeleportAn overview of teleportation of players.

Making an OnClicked ScriptShows how to use the Mouse to trigger weapons.

Using SoundsShows how to use events and work with Sounds.

How to Add Messages to Your PlaceShows how to use scripts to work with the Message object.

Using BodyPositionDetails how to use the BodyPosition object.

Using PlayerAddedHow to use the PlayerAdded event.

How to Create Talking CommandsA guide on how to use the Chatted event.

How to Make Multi-Handle toolsCreating tools with more than one brick for a handle.

How to make text on a brickHow to make words appear above a brick.

How to Make Conveyor BeltsParts that move other parts.

How to Make RampsUsing CFrame to rotate parts.

Controlling the CameraUsing Camera object to create effects.

GUI collision detectionUnderstanding how to detect collision between GUIs.

Dialog Shop TutorialCreate a Dialog Shop.

Controlling a Player's CharacterLearn how to control a player!

How to use a SelectionBoxSome more information on how to use SelectionBoxes

How to edit scripts with another scriptEdit and create scripts with a source specified using this method!