Introduction to JavaScript: Guide for beginners
The Beginner's guide to understanding the Lingua Franca of the web...
What is JavaScript?
JavaScript (JS) is the most popular programming language on the web. It is used mainly for enhancing the user's interaction with web pages. However, you need to understand how JavaScript works before you can use it to create magic.
The language is a scripting or programming dialect that empowers you to perform complex activities on website pages. Scripting languages are coding languages used to automate processes that users would otherwise need to execute on their own. Without scripting, changes on web pages would require Users to either manually reload the page, or navigate a series of static menus to get to their wanted content.
Wikipedia describes JavaScript as, "A high-level programming language. which has dynamic typing, prototype-based object-orientation, and first-class functions." JavaScript also has application programming interfaces (APIs) for working with text, dates, standard data structures, and the Document Object Model (DOM).
The History of JavaScript
The programming language, JavaScript, was developed by Brendan Eich in 1995. It first appeared in "Netscape," a popular browser of that time. The language was initially called LiveScript and was later renamed JavaScript.
Many Programmers often confuse JavaScript with Java - another programming language, but they are not similar in any way. Java is a complex programming language, unlike JavaScript which is only a scripting language.
What is JavaScript used for?
- To add interactivity to websites: JavaScript makes a website to become more than a static page of text.
- For developing mobile applications: JavaScript isn’t used for just websites; it’s also used to create applications.
- For creating web browser-based games: Have you ever played a game directly from your web browser? JavaScript was used to create that!
- Back-end web development: Although JavaScript is mostly used on the front end, it’s versatile and can be used on the back end as well.
How does JavaScript work?
Being a scripting language, JavaScript cannot run on its own. But depends on the web browser to execute its code. Thus, the language is supported by all modern web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, etc. It also runs on any operating system.
For starters, you will need a code editor to run your codes and a browser of your choice to display your programs. Then, JavaScript is either added directly to a page’s code using