What is JavaScript?
Most people who start learning to code begin with HTML and CSS. These elements are the backbone of any website or web application. But if you really want your site or application to come to life, then you need the third element: javascript. JavaScript is a scripting language that makes webpages dynamic. It allows for things like updating text in real-time, tracking user actions, and even displaying video content on the page. It’s also what powers the features we all use every day on the internet, from social media apps to online shopping carts.
JavaScript is an interpreted programming language that uses a virtual machine to translate its code for execution on the web browser. As a result, it has the benefits of an interpreted language, such as dynamic typing and looser restrictions on variable declarations, while still being more robust than compiled languages like C and Java. Additionally, it supports multiple programming paradigms, including object-oriented programming, which provides a more intuitive way for developers to think about their code.
The majority of modern browsers have built-in engines that can interpret javascript. This means that javascript can be typed directly into an HTML document and the browser will understand what it’s saying without needing to download or install any additional programs or compilers. Javascript is also used for back end web development, as it’s a powerful enough language to manage the back-end infrastructure of a website or web application.
While it is a little more complex than some other programming languages, most people who learn javascript find it easy to pick up. This is due to its simplicity and a wide variety of resources and forums available for beginners. It is also a relatively fast language to run, and errors are easy to spot and correct. It is also highly versatile, and can be used in conjunction with other programming languages such as PHP and Ruby.
Many of the most popular websites and web applications use javascript to provide interactive features for their users. Some of the most famous examples include Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Wikipedia. Javascript is responsible for the dynamic updates that appear on these websites, as well as the functionality of many other features we all take for granted such as social media widgets and the ability to search using just a few letters. Without javascript, the internet would be much more boring and static.