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What is JavaScript

JavaScript is a popular and versatile programming language that is used to create interactive websites and web applications. It is a core technology of the World Wide Web along with HTML and CSS. JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted programming language that is used to add interactivity to web pages. It is an essential technology for web developers and is supported by all modern web browsers. It also has a high demand in the Job market as of 2024.

What is JavaScript used for?​

JavaScript has a plethora of use cases and can be used for a wide variety of applications. Some of the most common uses of JavaScript include:

  • Interactive web applications.
  • Web servers and server-side applications.
  • Mobile applications(React Native, NativeScript).
  • Games(Phaser, Three.Js).
  • Desktop Applications(Electron).
  • Iot Applications.
  • Machine Learning Applications(Tensorflow.Js).
  • Blockchain Applications.
  • Virtual Reality Applications(A-Frame, React 360).
  • Augmented Reality Applications(A-Frame, Ar.Js).

Characteristics of JavaScript​

  • High-level language: JavaScript is a high-level language, which means that it is closer to human language than machine language. This makes it easier to read and write code in JavaScript.
  • Interpreted language: JavaScript is an interpreted language, which means that it is executed line by line by an interpreter. This makes it easier to debug and test code in JavaScript.
  • Dynamic language: JavaScript is a dynamic language, which means that variables do not have a fixed type. This makes it easier to write flexible and reusable code in JavaScript.
  • Weakly typed language: JavaScript is a weakly typed language, which means that variables can be implicitly converted from one type to another. This makes it easier to write concise and expressive code in JavaScript.
  • Prototype-based language: JavaScript is a prototype-based language, which means that objects can inherit properties and methods from other objects. This makes it easier to create and manage complex data structures in JavaScript.
  • Functional language: JavaScript is a functional language, which means that functions are first-class citizens and can be passed around as arguments. This makes it easier to write modular and reusable code in JavaScript.
  • Event-driven language: JavaScript is an event-driven language, which means that code is executed in response to events such as user input or network requests. This makes it easier to create interactive and responsive applications in JavaScript.
  • Asynchronous language: JavaScript is an asynchronous language, which means that code can run in parallel without blocking the main thread. This makes it easier to write fast and efficient code in JavaScript.
  • Single-threaded language: JavaScript is a single-threaded language, which means that code is executed one line at a time. This makes it easier to reason about the flow of code in JavaScript.
  • Cross-platform language: JavaScript is a cross-platform language, which means that it can run on any device that has a JavaScript engine. This makes it easier to write code that works on multiple platforms in JavaScript.

JavaScript is a versatile and powerful language that is used by millions of developers around the world. It is an essential technology for web development and is supported by all modern web browsers. If you are new to JavaScript, I recommend checking out the official MDN Web Docs for more information.

Where does Javascript Run?​

Javascript was originally designed to run in web browsers so every browser has a JavaScript Engine that executes JavaScript code, but it has since been adapted to run on a wide variety of platforms. In 2009, Ryan Dahl created Node.js, a runtime environment that allows JavaScript to run on the outside of the browser(server-side) by embedding the open source Javascript Engine in Chrome(V8 Engine) in a C++ Program. Since then, JavaScript has been used to create web servers, command-line tools, desktop applications, mobile applications, games, and more.

In a nutshell, JavaScript can run in both the browser and the server-side environment(e.g Node.js). It can also run on mobile devices, desktop applications, and other platforms using frameworks and libraries like React Native, Electron, and others respectively.

The power of JavaScript(with real-world examples)​

JavaScript is a versatile and powerful language that is used to create a wide variety of applications. Here are some real-world examples of applications that are built using JavaScript:

  • Google Maps: Google Maps is a web mapping service that is built using JavaScript. It allows users to view maps, get directions, and find places of interest.
  • Facebook: Facebook is a social networking service that is built using JavaScript. It allows users to connect with friends, share photos and videos, and stay in touch with the people they care about.
  • Twitter: Twitter is a microblogging service that is built using JavaScript. It allows users to post short messages called tweets, follow other users, and stay up to date with the latest news and trends.
  • Netflix: Netflix is a streaming service that is built using JavaScript. It allows users to watch movies and TV shows on demand, create personalized profiles, and discover new content.

Difference between JavaScript and ECMAScript​

JavaScript is often confused with ECMAScript, but they are not the same thing. JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted programming language that is used to create interactive websites and web applications. ECMAScript is a standard that defines the syntax and semantics of the JavaScript language. JavaScript is an implementation of the ECMAScript standard, which means that it is a specific version of the language that is based on the ECMAScript standard.

Therefore JavaScript is a programming language while EcmaScript is a specification for a programming language. JavaScript is the most popular implementation of the ECMAScript standard, but there are other implementations as well, such as ActionScript, JScript, and others.

The first version of the ECMAScript standard was published in 1997, and it has been updated several times since then. The latest version of the ECMAScript standard is ECMAScript 2021, which was published in June 2021. JavaScript is based on the ECMAScript 2021 standard, but it also includes additional features that are not part of the standard. In 2015, they released ECMAScript 6(ES6) which introduced a lot of new features like classes, arrow functions, let, const, and more. Since then, they have been releasing new versions of ECMAScript every year.

Conclusion​

JavaScript is a versatile and powerful programming language that is used to create interactive websites and web applications. It is a high-level, interpreted language that is supported by all modern web browsers. JavaScript has a wide variety of use cases and can be used for a wide variety of applications. It is an essential technology for web developers and is used by millions of developers around the world. If you are new to JavaScript, I recommend checking out the official MDN Web Docs for more information.

Made with ❤️ by Fasakin Henry