What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a programming language that bring websites to life. This is in contrast to HTML (which specifies content) and CSS and different from PHP, it runs on visitor’s devices rather than the server. 

What you need to know:

1. JavaScript is easy to learn;
2. It is developed by Netscape and used on 92% of websites;
3. JS can be assigned to specific web page elements or events such as clicks.
4. It works across different browsers and devices;
5. It’s faster and more lightweight than other programming languages;
6. Can be less secure than other options due to its popularity;
7. You can either add JavaScript directly to HTML or store it in separate files and call the functionality as needed.

JavaScript is one of the most preferred programming languages with almost twenty years of history. It’s also one of the three main languages used by web developers:

1. HTML: Allows you to add content to a web page.
2. CSS: Define the layout, style and alignment of web pages.
3. JavaScript: Improves the way web pages behave.

JavaScript is easy to learn and is used for different purposes; from simply improving the functionality of a website to running games and web-based software. You can find a lot of JavaScript templates and applications available on the internet for free.

History of JavaScript

JavaScript was invented in September 1995 by Brandan Eich, a Netscape employee, in just 10 days. At first it was called Mocha, then was changed to Mona and then LiveScript before eventually becoming known as JavaScript. Initial versions of the language were only limited exclusively to Netscape and only provide limited functionality, but it’s continued to grow over time, thanks in part of the community of developers who continue to work with it.

JavaScript was officially given the name of ECMAScript in 1996. ECMAScript 2 came out in 1998 followed by ECMAScript 3 in 1999. This evolved into today’s JavaScript, which now works not only across various browsers but also on different devices like mobiles and desktop computers.

JavaScript has continued to grow ever since, to the point at which 92% of websites are using JavaScript by 2016. In just 20 years, it went from a primitive programming language into one of the most important tools in a web developer’s toolbox. If you have used the internet, then you have definitely encountered JavaScript too.

Advantages of Javascript

JavaScript has a lot of advantages that makes it a better choice than its competitors, especially in certain use cases. Some of the benefits of using JavaScript are:

1. CompilerUsing a compiler is not necessary since web browsers interpret it with HTML;
2. It’s easier to learn than other programming languages;
3. It is easier to spot and correct errors;
4. It can be assigned to specific web page elements or events like clicks or mouseovers;
5. JS works across multiple browsers, platforms, etc;
6. You can use JavaScript to validate inputs and reduce the need for manual data checks;
7. It makes websites more interactive and holds visitors’ attention;
8. It’s faster and more lightweight than other programming languages.

Disadvantages of Javascript

Every programming language has a weakness. Part of the problem is that when a programming language becomes known as JavaScript is, there’s an added incentive for hackers, scammers and other malicious third parties to try to find loopholes and security flaws. Some of the disadvantages of JavaScript are:

1. Vulnerable to exploits;
2. Can be used to execute malicious code on a user’s computer;
3. Not always supported by different browsers and devices;
4. JS code snippets are quite large;
5. Can be rendered differently on various devices, leading to inconsistency.

How does JavaScript work?

JavaScript is normally embedded directly into a web page or referenced through a separate .js file. It’s a client-side language, meaning the script is downloaded to visitor’s machines and processed there as opposed to a server-side language that is executed on your server before it sends the files to visitors.

Keep in mind that most web browsers also provide the ability for users to disable JavaScript. That is why it is important to specify what happens in the event that it’s downloaded to a machine that doesn’t support it.

What’s the difference between other programming languages and Javascript?

The reason why JavaScript is one of the most used programming languages is the fact that it’s so versatile. In fact, most developers turn to it as their programming language of choice and only turn to the others on this list when they needed something a little more specific.

Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular programming languages:

• JavaScript - JavaScript (JS) is all about adding interactivity to websites. The scripts run in the user’s browser as opposed to the server and typically tap into third-party libraries to offer advanced functionality without having the developer to code it from scratch every time.

• HTML - Abbreviation for “Hypertext Markup Language”, HTML is one of the most well known programming languages on the web and forms the building blocks of a web page. Examples of HTML tags include for paragraphs and for images.

• PHP - PHP is a server-side language opposed to JavaScript which runs on the client’s side. It’s usually seen in PHP-based content management systems such as WordPress, however it is also commonly used for back-end development as it offers the perfect way to facilitate the transfer of information to and from a database.

• CSS - CSS stands for “Cascading Style Sheets” and enable webmasters to specify styles and to define the way that various types of content are displayed. You can do this manually for every element in HTML, however by doing it in CSS you save yourself from repeatedly having to specify how elements are displayed every time you use them.
  

How do you add JavaScript on a website?

To insert a string of JavaScript code into a webpage, you’ll need to use the

As a general rule, it’s a great idea to include your JavaScript inside the