Jonathan De Vita takes a keen interest in technology and consumer electronics, having earned a BSc (Hons) degree in computer science from Lancaster University. As part of his degree, Jonathan De Vita studied the field of AI and coding using specialist programming languages. This article will look at JavaScript, a general-purpose programming language created to allow programmers to ‘write once, run anywhere’.
Although JavaScript may seem a daunting programming language for the uninitiated to get to grips with, in reality, it has proliferated virtually every aspect of our daily lives. Widely used throughout the tech world today, JavaScript enables programmers to create and control dynamic website content, including features like photo slideshows, interactive forms, animated graphics and autocomplete text suggestions.
Essentially, anything that refreshes, moves, or otherwise changes on a page without the need to manually reload the page is controlled by JavaScript. Examples of the JavaScript programming language in action include Google’s suggested search terms based on a few letters typed in the search bar, or a Facebook user’s timeline automatically updating.
For those seeking to break into a career in tech, getting to grips with JavaScript is an integral step. While web developers typically start their coding journey by learning HTML and CSS, the next step is JavaScript, the three elements combined forming the backbone of modern web development.
While HTML enables web developers to control the structure of webpages, including the body text, images and headers, CSS controls how the page looks by customising fonts and background colours, etc. Once web developers have used HTML to create their website structure and CSS to establish their aesthetic, they typically add JavaScript, the magical third element, to make their website or project more polished and dynamic.
JavaScript is a programming language that is used to automate processes that internet users would otherwise need to follow complicated, step-by-step processes to execute on their own. Without JavaScript, picking up changes on web pages would either require internet users to reload the page or navigate a series of static menus to access the content they are looking for.
Scripting languages do the heavy lifting by telling computer programs to ‘do something’. In the case of JavaScript, this programming language tells dynamic features to do whatever they are meant to do, for example, telling autocomplete suggestions to respond to prompts; photos to cycle through a slideshow; and images to animate themselves. Thanks to the programming script in JavaScript, these things happen seemingly all on their own.
Server-side JavaScript extends basic language by providing objects necessary for server-side JavaScript execution. For example, it allows app developers to create connections between the app and the database, or support file I/O operations.
Client-side JavaScript enriches the fundamental language by providing objects for controlling the browser’s document object model. For instance, client-side extensions can allow programs to add HTML elements to an HTML file, enabling it to respond to user actions like page navigation, form input and mouse clicks.
JavaScript is a scripting language that was developed for data handling in browsers. Thanks to its lightweight nature, JavaScript code is an ideal fit for client-side execution, particularly for web apps.
Learning JavaScript code can be a daunting process, requiring students to get to grips with a plethora of new phrases and terminology. Thankfully, there are a wealth of resources available to walk beginners through the process, including self-guided websites and courses, coding schools and bootcamps, coding meetups, and more.
One of the most dynamic and widely used programming languages today, JavaScript facilitates the construction of rich web experiences via computers, smartphones and digital devices. This worldclass programming language is supported by a dedicated global community committed to its continued advancement.
