JavaScript is the most popular programming language in the world, with around 57.8 perfect of software developers having used JavaScript in 2023. JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted programming language and is used primarily for creating interactive and dynamic content on websites.
Working together with HTML and CSS, JavaScript provides a way to handle the behavior of a website, like making searches, clicking buttons, filters, and so on.
Why Is JavaScript So Popular
JavaScript grew in popularity due to its utility and importance in modern web development. The key features of JavaScript include:
- Ability to make web pages interactive and dynamic
- Supported by all modern web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, making JavaScript code run consistently on all platforms.
- Several powerful frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js that make building web applications easier
- Allows for full-stack development with the power of Node.js, which is a JavaScript framework for backend development.
How Does JavaScript Work
JavaScript is executed by the web browser’s JavaScript engine. When a web page is loaded, the browser downloads the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files and then renders the page.
JavaScript works by manipulating the DOM (Document Object Model) and creates interactive elements on the page.
Sample JavaScript example:
javascript<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>JavaScript Example</title> </head> <body> <h1 id="greeting">Hello, World!</h1> <button onclick="changeGreeting()">Click Me</button> <script> function changeGreeting() { document.getElementById("greeting").innerText = "Hello, JavaScript!"; } </script> </body> </html>
In the above example, when the button is clicked, the changeGreeting()
function is trigged, changing the text from Hello, World!
to Hello, JavaScript!
.
We will go into further detail on how to write effective JavaScript code throughout this section.
Conclusion
JavaScript is a powerful language for all programmers interested in web development. Coupled with HTML and CSS, JavaScript will make your web applications interactive and dynamic, which is a necessity in modern web development. To get started using JavaScript, check out the JavaScript Installation guide.