does Safari need AppleScript or javascript?
I see Java is enabled on the Safari security menu. AppleScript is the default in script editor. Should I keep both in their respective places?
MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
If you are certain that you have a need for Java, then you should keep it updated just like anything else. Java is distributed and maintained by the Oracle corporation:
https://www.java.com/en/download/help/mac_install.html
On the other hand if you have no need for Java then it would be best to uninstall it. Quoting Oracle's website, "Keeping old versions of Java on your system presents a serious security risk."
... advice that pretty much goes for anything that becomes outdated or unsupported.
To uninstall Java, read https://www.java.com/en/download/help/mac_uninstall_java.html
JavaScript, being unrelated to the Java program, is incorporated in web browsers such as Safari. Safari is updated along with macOS, so as long as you keep Safari updated you will be using the latest version of it. Remember it's not related to Java, and even if it becomes outdated it's not a "serious security risk".
Website security is another subject altogether. If a website requires a newer version of the browser you're using, the website generally just won't work.