JavaScript is used by programmers around the world to create dynamic and interactive web content, such as applications and browsers. JavaScript is so popular that it is the most widely used programming language in the world, used by 97.0% of all websites as a client-side programming language. Client-side languages are those where the action takes place on the user’s computer, not on the server.
JavaScript is flexible enough to be used for a variety of applications, such as software, hardware controls, and servers. JavaScript is best known as a web-based language because it originated in the web browser. A web browser can understand language naturally, just as an English speaker can understand English naturally.
The JavaScript programming language displayed on the desktop screen
JavaScript has evolved over the past 25 years to become a flexible and accessible programming language for working with web browsers. Developers use JavaScript to create complex interactive web pages and browser games, and to connect servers to websites and web applications. Because of this versatility, it’s easy to see why this language is the most commonly used programming language in the world.
Create interactive web pages:
JavaScript makes web pages dynamic. Before JavaScript, websites were built using only HTML and CSS. HTML and CSS are only capable of creating static pages that can be styled but cannot be interacted with outside of hyperlinks. Some of the most popular websites are built with JavaScript, including Google, YouTube, and Facebook.
JavaScript allows developers to implement features such as:
Show and hide menus or information
Added hover effect
Create image galleries in carousel format
Zoom in or out the image
Play audio or video on web page
More animations
Create drop-down menus and hamburger styles
Build apps
With a rich collection of JavaScript frameworks, developers can build apps for mobile and web efficiently. Frameworks are libraries of pre-written JavaScript code that developers use for standard functionality. You can think of the JavaScript framework as a blueprint.
The most popular JavaScript application frameworks are:
React:
A collection of JavaScript created to create user interfaces for web applications.
Native response:
A collection that allows developers to create mobile apps using JavaScript.
Node.js:
A collection that allows two-way communication with servers to exchange data.
Facebook built React and React Native, which are now powering some of the most powerful social media apps in the world. React is used by websites like Uber, Pinterest, Netflix, Instagram, Amazon, Twitter, Udemy, and more. Facebook,
Instagram, Shopify, Words with Friends, Skype, Pinterest, Discord, Tesla, and Uber Eats use React Native.
JavaScript is designed to:
Speed, Velocity:
running the code in a web browser in its native language is faster than running the code on the server.
Dynamic page:
user-interactive pages were not possible before JavaScript was generated.
Reduce memory usage:
Running the code in the browser frees up space on the server, which reduces costs. Why do we need JavaScript?
Whether you plan to specialize in front-end, back-end, or full-stack development, JavaScript remains an important programming language for any web developer. Without JavaScript, we wouldn’t have the dynamic, interactive web pages that have become the standard user experience we know, love, and all rely on.
Is JavaScript used for front-end or back-end?
JavaScript is a client-side language, which technically makes it a user interface language. But with the Node.js framework, JavaScript can also be used in the back-end. Using JavaScript across the entire stack, for both front-end and front-end, is a great method because it creates a cohesive application. When as much code as possible is in the same language, it’s easier to maintain, manage, update, and build with a team.
When used for user interfaces, JavaScript makes web pages dynamic and interactive. He validates submission forms, updates certain content.
