A Beginner’s Guide to Javascript

You can’t get very far in technology without encountering javascript. It’s one of the most widely used programming languages, and while it may seem intimidating, it’s actually pretty easy to learn. If you’re interested in becoming a web developer, learning javascript will give you the tools you need to create dynamic and interactive websites that respond to user input.

Here are a few things you should know about javascript:

JavaScript is an object-oriented language. This means it has a lot of methods that can be called on objects, and it also allows you to create your own objects. In addition, javascript uses functions to group code together. Then, when a function is called, it will execute the code within its scope chain. The code inside the first function that is invoked will be executed first, then the code in the second function, and so on.

Like many other languages, javascript uses semicolons to separate statements on a single line. It is also good practice to use comments to explain what the code is doing. JavaScript also supports multiple inheritance, meaning that you can extend a base class and add your own functions and variables to it. This is useful for creating your own objects and adding new features to existing ones.

One of the biggest reasons for the popularity of javascript is its ability to interact with the Document Object Model (DOM) on a web page. The DOM is a hierarchical structure that represents all the elements on a web page, and javascript can manipulate the DOM in real-time. This makes it possible for a website to change its fonts, images, text, and other elements based on the user’s input.

Another key feature of javascript is its support for asynchronous programming. This allows code to be run asynchronously, which can greatly improve performance and efficiency. This is especially important for web applications, which must be able to react quickly to user input.

In addition, javascript offers a number of advanced features, such as closures and inlining. Closed functions are functions that are nested within other functions, and they allow the inner function to access all the variables and functions of its parent. This can be helpful in creating reusable functions that can be called in different places on the page. Inlining is another way that javascript can improve efficiency. It inserts a short piece of code that acts as the call site for a function, which can save a lot of time by eliminating the need to create and run the function on its own.

If you’re curious about learning javascript, there are plenty of resources available online to help you get started. You can find tutorials that provide a step-by-step guide to writing your first program in javascript, as well as code repositories where you can see how other people are using javascript to create their own web apps. In addition, courses such as Getting Started with JavaScript on Coursera can teach you everything you need to know about the language, from the basics to more advanced features.