What is JavaScript ?
JavaScript is a dynamic, high-level, interpreted programming language that is widely used for creating interactive web pages and web applications. It was originally developed by Netscape Communications Corporation in 1995 as a way to add interactive features to web pages. Since then, it has become one of the most popular programming languages, with a large and active community of developers.
- JavaScript is a lightweight, Object Oriented Programming language.
- It is a scripting language for web pages and web applications.
- It is used to add interactivity and dynamic effects to web pages.
- “.js” is the extension.
- It is used in server-side development.
- JS Frontend Frameworks: React, Angular, Vue.
- JS Backend Frameworks: Express, Node.
Features of JavaScript:
There are following features of JavaScript:
- JavaScript support all popular web browsers and they have provide built-in execution environments.
- It is a light-weighted and interpreted language.
- It is a case-sensitive language.
- JavaScript is supportable in several operating systems including, Windows, macOS, etc.
- It provides good control to the users over the web browsers.
What is ECMAScript?
The full form of ECMA is European Computer Manufacturer’s Association. ECMAScript is a Standard for scripting languages such as JavaScript, JScript, etc.
ECMAScript is a standard on which JavaScript is based, It was created to ensure that different documents on JavaScript are talking about the same language.
ECMAScript Versions:
ECMAScript, Beginning in 1997, JavaScript has evolved into many versions.
- ECMAScript1 ( ES1 ) was first released in 1997.
- ECMAScript 2015 also known as ES6 was released in 2015 and a major revision to JavaScript was made.
- The latest version of JavaScript will be ECMaScript2022 (ES13) in 2022.
JavaScript Execution
Do we need to install JavaScript?
The answer is NO, Because JavaScript is present everywhere in browsers, on your phone, etc.
How to execute JavaScript?
- JavaScript can be executed right inside one’s browser. You can open the JS console and start writing JS there.
- JS is a runtime execute like Node.js which can be installed and used to run JavaScript code.
- JavaScript execute by inserting it inside the <script> tag of an HTML document.
Getting Started with JavaScript
To start using JavaScript, you’ll need a text editor and a web browser. There are many text editors available, such as Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text editor and Atom which are all popular choices among developers.
Once you have a text editor set up, you can start writing JavaScript code. To do this, you’ll need to create a new file with a .js extension and then type your code into the file. You can then save the file and open it in your web browser to see the results.