Introduction to JavaScript
JavaScript is the maximum famous and widely used patron-aspect scripting language. Client-side scripting refers to scripts that run within your internet browser. JavaScript is designed to feature interactivity and dynamic consequences to net pages by manipulating the content material lower back from an internet server.
JavaScript turned into at the beginning developed as LiveScript with the aid of Netscape in the mid-1990s. It was later renamed to JavaScript in 1995 and became an ECMA general in 1997. Now JavaScript is the same old customer-aspect scripting language for web-primarily based applications, and it’s miles supported using absolutely all web browsers to be had nowadays, which includes Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, etc.
JavaScript is an item-orientated language and has a few similarities in syntax to Java programming language. But, JavaScript is not associated with Java in any manner.
ECMA (European Computer Manufacturers Association) formally continues JavaScript as ECMAScript. ECMAScript 6 (or ES6) is a brand new important model of the ECMAScript popular.
Why Learn JavaScript?
JavaScript is considered one of the essential languages for web developers, forming a trio with HTML, which defines the content of web pages, and CSS, which specifies the layout. JavaScript is crucial for programming the behaviour and interactivity of web pages.
Where is JS used?
JavaScript is extensively used across many technologies and platforms, enhancing functionality and user experience in various domains. Here’s a detailed look at where JavaScript plays a crucial role:
1. Salesforce
- Lightning Components: JavaScript is integral in developing Salesforce’s Lightning Components, which create a dynamic and interactive user interface.
- Apex Integration: JavaScript works with Apex controllers to handle client-side logic, making Salesforce applications more responsive.
2. Microsoft Dynamics CRM
- Form Scripting: JavaScript customizes and validates forms, improving CRM data entry and user interactions.
- Web Resources: HTML and JavaScript web resources are embedded in CRM forms, enhancing functionality and user experience.
3. SharePoint
- Client-Side Object Model (CSOM): JavaScript interacts with SharePoint data, allowing for real-time updates and custom user experiences.
- SharePoint Framework (SPFx): SPFx leverages JavaScript to develop modern, responsive web parts and extensions for SharePoint.
4. Angular
- Framework for Single Page Applications (SPAs): Angular, built on TypeScript (a superset of JavaScript), uses JavaScript for creating dynamic and responsive SPAs.
- Component-Based Architecture: JavaScript supports Angular’s component-based architecture, enabling modular and maintainable code.
5. PHP
- Client-Side Interactivity: While PHP handles server-side processing, JavaScript manages client-side interactions, such as form validation and dynamic content updates.
- AJAX Integration: JavaScript allows for asynchronous data fetching from the server, creating smoother and more responsive web applications.
6. Mobile Apps
- React Native: JavaScript is used to build cross-platform mobile applications with React Native, allowing for a single codebase that runs on both iOS and Android.
- Progressive Web Apps (PWAs): JavaScript powers PWAs, providing a native app-like experience in web browsers on mobile devices.
7. Web Applications
- Interactive User Interfaces: JavaScript is essential for creating interactive and dynamic web interfaces, from simple effects to complex real-time applications.
- Frameworks and Libraries: Popular frameworks (React, Vue.js, Angular) and libraries (jQuery) leverage JavaScript to streamline and enhance web development.
8. Node.js
- Backend Development: JavaScript runs on the server side with Node.js, enabling the development of scalable and efficient backend services and APIs.
- Microservices Architecture: Node.js facilitates the creation of microservices, which are small, independent services that work together to form a larger application.
What You Can Do with JavaScript
There are a lot more things you can do with JavaScript.
- Modify Web Page Content: Dynamically add or remove elements on a webpage.
- Style and Position Elements: Change the style and position of elements for dynamic visual effects.
- Event Handling: Monitor events like mouse clicks or hovers and respond accordingly.
- Transitions and Animations: Perform and control transitions and animations for a more engaging user interface.
- Alert Pop-ups: Create alert pop-ups to display information or warning messages to users.
- User Input Handling: Perform operations based on user inputs and dynamically update the page.
- Input Validation: Validate user inputs before submitting them to the server for improved data integrity.
The list does not end here, there are many other interesting things that you can do with JavaScript. You will learn about all of them in detail in upcoming chapters.
Where does JS Code Run?
The JavaScript code may be achieved anywhere there may be a JavaScript runtime. Browsers, cellular gadgets, TVs, or even server environments like Node.Js all have their personal JavaScript runtimes. Each runtime, along with V8 in Chrome and SpiderMonkey in Firefox, translates and executes JavaScript code, making it a flexible language that may run on many extraordinary structures This flexibility is prime to JavaScript’s ubiquity and is famous within the world of internet development and past.
ECMAScript vs JavaScript
- JavaScript was first known as Live Script, but Netscape changed its name to JavaScript.
- The general-purpose core of the language has been embedded in Netscape, Internet Explorer, and other web browsers.
- The standard of scripting languages like JavaScript is ECMAScript.
- The full form of ECMA is the European Computer Manufacturer’s Association.
- ECMAScript is a Standard for scripting languages such as JavaScript, JScript, etc.
- JavaScript is a language based on ECMAScript.
- A standard for scripting languages like JavaScript, and JScript is ECMAScript.
