JavaScript is a powerful and flexible scripting language that is implemented progressively by various web browsers. So JavaScript enables you to implement complex elements on web pages. Every time a webpage fulfill more than just display static information for a user to look at, for example, interactive maps, animated 3D graphics, scrolling video jukeboxes, etc. — be pretty sure that JavaScript is probably involved in here.
The basic JavaScript consists of some common programming features that allow you to do such things:
- Storing useful values inside variables;
- Operations on pieces of text (known as “strings” in programming);
- Running code in response to certain events occurring on a web page.
The functionality built on top of the core JavaScript language is one more exciting thing about this language. So-called Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) provide you with extra opportunities to use in your JavaScript code.
But it was not expected that JavaScript would be so relevant in the modern world of web development. So why exactly JavaScript became one of the most popular languages in the world of software development?
A backstory
When in the 1990s the Internet began to gain popularity in use, many technology companies struggled to create the most powerful web browser on the market. Especially companies like Microsoft with its Internet Explorer and Netscape with NetScape Navigator started to compete to gain dominance in the usage share of web browsers.
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In turn, Netscape needed a lightweight language to make programming much easier. Web development became more accessible, in contrast to other programming languages that required deeper knowledge. In 1995, Brendan Eich, a NetScape employee, helped the company build such lightweight scripting language called Mocha, which was later renamed to JavaScript.
JavaScript won developers hearts because it turned web browsers into application platforms. It can be used in both the front-end and back-end development. JavaScript also works with the document object model, or the DOM, to respond to user interactions. Another great thing about this language is that it offers a lot of frameworks and libraries that help developers create complex apps with low overhead.
JavaScript today
JavaScript is now an essential web component and supported by the most popular web browsers. It’s been the most commonly used language in the vastness of Stack Overflow’s for six years in a row as the familiarity with the programming language is crucial for anyone who wants to become a web developer. So If you are about to dive into either programming or web development, JavaScript is an excellent language to learn!
