A Basic Introduction to JavaScript

In the recent times, JavaScript has been one of the most popular programming languages for the web developers. However, its uses are not restricted to just web development. JavaScript will provide more opportunities in the future to the world of programming.

Are you willing to start your journey now and have been dragging your feet on learning the finer points of JavaScript? Let’s look into what is JavaScript and how is it different from other programming languages.

What is JavaScript?

Developed in the year 1995, by Brendon Eich, JavaScript appeared in a popular browser at that time Netscape. It was initially called LiveScript, but since Java was a popular language at that time, it was later named as JavaScript as associating with an already popular brand, will enhance its value and more people can relate to it. Now it is an independent entity with its specification called ECMAScript and it is no longer related to Java. JavaScript can run on popular operating systems such as Windows, Linux and Mac. It needs a simple tool such as Notepad++ or any other text editor to write code and a browser to display the developed webpages.

Java was mainly developed to make webpages more alive and kicking. The programs in JavaScript’s are called scripts and these are written in the website’s HTML. It runs automatically as the page loads! Scripts are executed as plain texts and they don’t need special permission to run it regularly. Right now, JavaScript not only runs on a website, but it can also be used on a server or a device, that has a JavaScript engine. Different browsers have separate codenames such as V8 in Chrome, Opera, SpiderMonkey in Firefox. For Safari, they have Nitro and Squirrelfish and for different versions of Internet Explorer, the codenames are Trident and Chakra.

JavaScript can do multiple functions such as webpage manipulation, user interaction and the web server in a browser.

Below is the list of things an in-browser JavaScript can perform:

  1. Add new HTML to a page, modify styles and change existing content
  2. It also reacts to user interaction, mouse clicks, keyboard presses and movement of pointers
  3. It helps send requests over the network to a remote server, upload/download files
  4. Get cookies and interact with users/asking queries
  5. The client-side data can be stored in local storage

JavaScript has its limitations as the syntax of it do not meet everyone’s needs as there are different needs to be met with different people. To overcome this whole new sets of languages have cropped up of late, which are transpired into JavaScript and later it is run in the browser. These new tools are quick and help the developers to code in other language and convert it automatically into a JavaScript.

Examples of some of the new languages are CoffeeScript, Typescript, Flow and Dart. These are utilized by all types of websites and applications from top free local sex sites to online dating applications. These are strong examples as these sites require high speeds to compete for organic search traffic.

What makes JavaScript Unique?

After knowing the basic idea of JavaScript, let’s look at the three features that make it special compared to other languages.

  • Ability to do simple things effortlessly on a website
  • Ability to integrate efficiently with HTML/CSS
  • Ability to create browser interface, servers, and mobile apps and hence credited as the most popular tool for developers

Conclusively, JavaScript has a unique place as the most accustomed browser language with efficient integration with HTML/CSS. Several languages get compiled to JavaScript and provide certain features and thus is advisable to survey them briefly after excelling in JavaScript.