Do you know that how much introduction to JavaScript is important before deep diving into it? Have you ever wondered how websites can be interactive, dynamic and fun? How can you make a web page respond to your clicks, inputs or gestures? How can you create animations, games or applications that run on the web? The answer is JavaScript!
JavaScript: The Language of the Web
JavaScript is a programming language that can make websites come alive. It is one of the most popular and widely used languages in the world and it runs on almost any device that has a web browser. In this article, you will learn:
- What is JavaScript and what can it do?
- How to write and run JavaScript code in your browser.
- Why you should learn JavaScript and what are its advantages.
By the end of this article, you will have a basic understanding of JavaScript and be ready to explore more topics and features. Let’s get started!
What is JavaScript and what can it do?
JavaScript is a scripting language that was created in 1995 by Brendan Eich at Netscape. It was originally designed to add interactivity and functionality to web pages such as:
- Validating forms
- Creating animations
- Manipulating the content of a web page
Since then, JavaScript has evolved into a powerful and versatile language that can do much more than just web development. For example, you can use JavaScript to:
- Create web applications that run on different platforms and devices such as mobile phones, tablets or desktops.
- Create server-side applications that handle data and logic such as databases, web servers or chatbots.
- Create desktop applications that run natively on Windows, Mac or Linux such as text editors, music players or video editors.
- Create games that run on browsers or game engines such as puzzles, arcade games or 3D games.
- Create artificial intelligence and machine learning applications such as face recognition, speech recognition or natural language processing.
JavaScript is also an open standard that is maintained by an international committee. The latest version of the language is called ECMAScript 2020 (or ES11) which introduces new features and improvements to the language.
How to write and run JavaScript code in your browser
One of the easiest ways to write and run JavaScript code is to use your web browser’s developer tools. Most modern browsers have a built-in feature called the console which allows you to execute JavaScript code and see the results. To open the console in your browser you can use one of these keyboard shortcuts:
- Chrome: Ctrl+Shift+J (Windows) or Cmd+Option+J (Mac)
- Firefox: Ctrl+Shift+K (Windows) or Cmd+Option+K (Mac)
- Safari: Cmd+Option+C (Mac)
- Edge: F12 then Ctrl+Shift+J
- Opera: Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) or Cmd+Option+I (Mac) then click Console
Once you have opened the console you can type any valid JavaScript code and press Enter to run it. For example, try typing this simple expression:
2 + 2
You should see the result 4 printed in the console. You can also use the console to print messages using the console.log() method. For example:
console.log("Hello, world!")
You should see the message “Hello, world!” printed in the console. You can use console.log() to debug your code or display any information you want.
Another way to write and run JavaScript code in your browser is to use an online editor or playground such as:
- CodePen
- JSFiddle
- Repl.it
These tools allow you to write HTML, CSS and JavaScript code in separate panels and see the output in a live preview. They are useful for experimenting with different features and libraries without having to set up a local environment.
Variables in JavaScript
A variable is a named container that can store a value. You can use variables to store data that you want to use later in your program. To create a variable in JavaScript you need to use one of these keywords:
- var
- let
- const.
For example:
var name = "Alice";
let age = 25;
const pi = 3.14;
Data types in JavaScript
A data type is a classification of data that determines what values it can have and what operations it can perform. JavaScript has eight basic data types:
- String
- Number
- Bigint
- Boolean
- Null
- Undefined
- Symbol
- Object.
Operators in JavaScript
An operator is a symbol that performs an operation on one or more values (called operands). JavaScript has many types of operators such as:
- Arithmetic
- Assignment
- Comparison
- Logical
- Bitwise
- String
- Conditional
Why you should learn JavaScript and what are its advantages
JavaScript is a great language to learn for many reasons. Here are some of them:
- JavaScript is easy to learn and use. You do not need any special software or tools to start writing JavaScript code. You just need a web browser and a text editor. You can also find many online resources and tutorials that can help you learn JavaScript quickly and effectively.
- JavaScript is fun and creative. You can use JavaScript to create amazing things on the web such as animations, games or applications. You can also use JavaScript to express your ideas and imagination in different ways.
- JavaScript is powerful and versatile. You can use JavaScript for many purposes and domains such as web development, server-side development, desktop development, game development or artificial intelligence. You can also use many libraries and frameworks that extend the capabilities and functionalities of JavaScript such as jQuery, React, Angular, Vue, Node.js, Express, Phaser, TensorFlow.js and more.
- JavaScript is popular and in demand. JavaScript is one of the most widely used and loved languages in the world. It is supported by almost all web browsers and platforms. It is also one of the most sought-after skills in the job market. According to the 2020 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, JavaScript is the most commonly used programming language among professional developers.
These are just some of the reasons why you should learn JavaScript and what are its advantages.
Limitations in JavaScript
Of course, there are also some challenges and limitations that you may encounter when using JavaScript such as:
- Compatibility issues
- Performance issues
- Security issues
However, these can be overcome or mitigated by using best practices, tools or solutions that are available for JavaScript developers.
Conclusion
In this article, you have learned what is JavaScript and what can it do, how to write and run JavaScript code in your browser, and why you should learn JavaScript and what are its advantages. You have also seen some examples of JavaScript code and how it works.
JavaScript is a language that can make websites interactive, dynamic and fun. It is also a language that can do much more than just web development. It is a language that is easy to learn and use, fun and creative, powerful and versatile, popular and in demand.