Introduction to JavaScript

Introduction to JavaScript

JavaScript is a lightweight object-orientated programming language utilized by numerous websites for scripting webpages. It is an interpreted, full-fledged programming language that permits dynamic interactivity on websites while carried out to an HTML document. It came into the picture in  1995 for including applications to the webpages inside the Netscape Navigator browser. Since then, it’s been followed via all different graphical internet browsers. With JavaScript, customers can construct current web apps to interact immediately without reloading the web page each time. The conventional internet site makes use of js to offer numerous varieties of interactivity and simplicity.

History of Javascript

In 1993, Mosaic, the first popular web browser, was born. In 1994 became Netscape by Marc Andreessen . He realized the web needed to become more dynamic. Therefore, it was believed that HTML was equipped with a “glue language” to simplify web design for designers and part-time programmers. Consequently, in 1995 the company hired BrendanEich with the intention of implementing the Scheme programming language and integrating it into the browser.

But before Brendan could get started, the company merged with Sun Microsystems to add Java to its navigator so it could compete with Microsoft on the technologies and platforms of the web. Now there were two languages: Java and the scripting language. Also, Netscape decided to give the scripting language a name similar to Java. It led to ‘Javascript’. Finally, in May 1995, Marc Andreessen coined the first Javascript code called ‘Mocha’.

The marketing team later replaced the name with “LiveScript”. But for trademark reasons and a few other reasons, the language was eventually renamed “JavaScript” in December 1995. From there, JavaScript was born.

Features

1. Lightweight scripting language

 JavaScript is a lightweight scripting language because it was designed only to process data in the browser. Because it is not a general-purpose language, it has a limited number of libraries. Since it’s designed for client-side execution only and web applications as well, the lightweight nature of JavaScript is a great feature.

2. Dynamic typing

JavaScript supports dynamic typing, which means that the types of variables are defined based on the stored value. For example, when you declare a variable x, you can store a string or value of type numeric, an array, or an object. This is called dynamic typing.

To understand this, in languages ​​like Java we explicitly mention that a specific variable stores a specific data type, while in JavaScript we don’t need to specify the data type when declaring a variable

. In JavaScript, we only need to use the var or let keyword before the variable name to declare a variable without worrying about its type.

3. Support for object-oriented programming

 Starting with ES6, the concept of class and object-oriented programming has been refined. Also, in JavaScript, two important principles with OOP in JavaScript object creation methods (called encapsulation) and code reuse methods (called inheritance). Although this feature is rarely used by JavaScript developers, anyone can explore it.

4. Functional Style

This implies that JavaScript uses a functional approach, even objects are created from constructor functions, and each constructor function represents a unique object type. In addition, functions in JavaScript can be used as objects and can also be passed to other functions.

5. Platform independent

 This implies that JavaScript is platform independent, or we can say that it is portable; which simply means you can just write the script once and run it anywhere, anytime. In general, you can write your JavaScript applications and run them on any platform or browser without affecting the script’s output.

6. Interpreted Language

JavaScript is an interpreted language which means the script written inside javascript is processed line by line. These Scripts are interpreted by a JavaScript interpreter which is a built-in component of the Web browser. But these days many JavaScript engines in browsers like the V8 engine in chrome use just-in-time compilation for JavaScript code.

7. Asynchronous Processing

JavaScript supports Promise, which allows for asynchronous requests where a request is started and JavaScript does not have to wait for the response, sometimes blocking the processing of the request. Starting with ES8, async functions in JavaScript are also supported, these functions are not executed individually but processed in parallel, which has a positive effect on the processing time and greatly reduces it.

8. Client-Side Validations

This is a feature that has always been available in JavaScript and is still widely used because every website has a form where users enter values, and to ensure that users enter the correct value, we need appropriate ones to implement validations. both client-side and server-side. JavaScript is used to implement client-side validations.

Applications

JavaScript is commonly used to create websites and web applications. Let’s discuss some practical uses of JavaScript in different segments.

1. Web Dev

JavaScript is a scripting language used to create websites. Programmed in Netscape, JS enables developers to create a dynamic and interactive web page to interact with visitors and perform complex actions.

It also allows users to load content into a document without reloading the entire page. Most websites use JavaScript to validate and support external applications, including PDF documents, widgets, and Flash applications. Some of the world’s largest technology companies use JavaScript to enhance user experiences.

Some well-known websites built with JavaScript are Google, YouTube, Facebook, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, eBay, Twitter, and LinkedIn to name a few.

2. Web Apps

Various JavaScript frameworks are used to develop and build robust web applications. In an application like Google Maps, when users want to explore a map, they have to click and drag the mouse to get a detailed view. This works with JavaScript, which interacts with the browser without communicating with servers. Popular JavaScript frontend frameworks that help build web applications are React Native, React, Angular, and Vue. Netflix and PayPal

were developed using the AngularJS JavaScript framework and application programming interfaces (APIs).

3. Presentations 

A very popular use of JavaScript is to create interactive presentations such as websites. The RevealJs and BespokeJs libraries can be used to create web-based slideshows using HTML. RevealJs helps create interactive slideshows with transition styles, themes, and slide backgrounds in all CSS color formats. BespokeJs is a feature-rich framework that includes features like scaling, animated bulleted lists, syntax highlighting, etc.

Even if a user is not fully familiar with a programming language, they can easily create presentations like websites using JavaScript.

4. Server Applications

JavaScript is also used to write server-side software via the open-source Node.js runtime environment. Developers can write, test, and debug code for fast, scalable network applications.

JavaScript helps generate content and manage HTTP requests. Big companies like Walmart, PayPal, Uber, GoDaddy, and many more have adopted Node.js for their server infrastructure.

5. Web Server

NodeJs.

JavaScript allows programmers to use JavaScript for server-side scripting. Node.js is event-based, it goes to the next call without waiting for the previous call to answer. Servers quickly transfer large amounts of data without intermediate storage. The HTTP module uses the createServer() method to create a server.

6. Game Development

Creating games on the web is another important use of JavaScript. The combination of JavaScript and HTML5 plays an important role in game development with JS. EaselJS library gives good graphics for games. HTML5 offers full web access without additional plugins like Flash.

Complex Tower Building, CrossCode, and HexGL browser games are based on JavaScript and HTML5.

7. Art Development

A newer HTML5 feature in JavaScript is the Canvas element, which allows you to easily draw 2D and 3D graphics on a web page. This has helped open doors for various digital art projects in the browser. Become a digital artist and create your own art code using JavaScript.

8. Smartwatch-Apps Development

Pebble.js is a Pebble JavaScript framework that allows developers to create Pebble watch apps using JavaScript. Build a smartwatch app with simple JavaScript code.

9. MobileApp Development

One of the most powerful uses of JavaScript is building applications for non-web contexts, ie for things not found on the web.

With the massive usage of mobile devices, JavaScript frameworks have been developed to simplify the development of mobile apps on different platforms like IOS, Android, and Windows. The React Native framework enables the creation of cross-platform mobile applications where developers can use a universal interface for Android and IOS platforms.

10. Flying Robots 

Finally, you can use JavaScript to program a flying robot. With the knot. In the javascript ecosystem, users can control numerous small robots, creative projects, and IoT devices. Enter the exciting world of drones, flying robots, and quadcopters with JavaScript.  

Thank you so much for reading

Happy Coding

For more details, you can visit MDN Docs

JavaScript Topicwise Articles

1. Variable in JavaScript
2. Let var const in JavaScript
3. Let var const in JavaScript
4. JavaScript Data Types