Many people outside IT have heard of JavaScript at least once.
And we bet most of them don’t even suspect that this is something they regularly interact with in their daily lives.
Although JS was launched back in the mid-90s, it’s still very popular, and JavaScript software development services are seeing huge demand today.
What is exactly JavaScript? Why use it? Our friends from Anyforsoft provided detailed answers in simple words. Let’s get down to business.
What is JavaScript?
JavaScript, or JS for short, is a text-based programming language. It is used both on the client and server sides, allowing developers to create dynamic web page content.
When HTML and CSS are responsible for the structure and style of web pages, JavaScript enables interactive elements.
In other words, implementing JavaScript transforms a static page into an interactive one, significantly enhancing user experience.
What is a JavaScript Framework?
To put it simply, JavaScript frameworks are collections of JavaScript code libraries that contain pre-written code that can be used for routine programming features and tasks, saving developers a lot of time and effort.
Do You Know?: According to usage stats of JS as a client-side coding language, around 98.7% of websites on the web employ JavaScript as a client-side coding language. Also, most popular websites like Wikipedia.org and Google.com use JS.
The most widely used JS frameworks include React, Angular, Vue, Meteor, Ember, Node, and Backbone, and each of them has a specific set of features that suit different needs.
What Can You Build with JavaScript?
Websites
Although it might sound too obvious, JavaScript is used for creating websites. Moreover, it was initially invented to make early websites interactive.
Three decades have passed since then, but JS remains one of the most popular technologies for building websites, offering a broad range of frameworks, libraries, and tools.
Today, the most common interactive actions that are possible thanks to JavaScript include using drop-down menus, expanding content blocks at a click, photo slideshows, auto-completing text suggestions, playing embedded video or audio files, displaying animations, etc.
Web and Mobile Apps
Developers can leverage an impressive variety of JavaScript frameworks to create web and mobile applications.
Server Applications
As already mentioned, JavaScript can run on the server side, which makes for easier and faster desktop app development.
There is little surprise that many companies have adopted JS as a core part of their backend infrastructures.
Games
Browser-based games have become a reality thanks to JavaScript. You can use JS to create 2D and 3D games quickly and easily directly from the browser.
Smartwatch Apps
Developers can take advantage of JS for building applications to run on smartwatches.
Some Famous Examples of Apps Built With JS
We’ve mentioned that JavaScript is something almost everybody interacts with daily.
The most popular programming language among developers in 2023 is JavaScript with 63.61% of users, followed by HTML/CSS (52.97%) and Python (49.28%).
When interactive websites, apps, and games might sound too generic, below are some examples of JS-based apps you’ve definitely heard of or even used:
The Facebook development team used a JS framework — React Native — to build their current mobile apps for iOS and Android.
LinkedIn, the most popular professional social media platform, was built by combining HTML and native JavaScript.
Uber
Uber used NodeJS to release a new version of their mobile app to improve their matching system.
Candy Crush Saga
The legendary Candy Crush remains one of the most successful games ever.
Interesting Fact: JavaScript is considered an extremely versatile language for creating websites, web apps, and desktop applications in both web browsers and standalone software applications.
Initially released as a Facebook web application, it was later reworked for Windows, Android, and iOS.
Netflix
Last but not least, Netflix made use of NodeJS when it came to redesigning its online streaming platform in 2014.
Why JavaScript
With 65% of developers using it in 2022, JavaScript is the most used programming language globally. Let’s explore why.
Simplicity
JavaScript’s syntax has a relatively flat learning curve compared to other widespread languages, such as C++.
Speed
JavaScript is loved for being incredibly fast — it often runs instantly within the client’s browser.
Do You Know?: In 2022, StackOverflow’s Developer Survey reports that 67.9% of professional developers use JavaScript more often than any other programming language.
Since it doesn’t require any outside resources, JS can’t be slowed down by calls to a backend server.
Popularity
JavaScript boasts a thriving developer community. Loads of resources and forums are available to help JS beginners.
Interoperability
JS can be inserted into any web page and used in various types of applications thanks to support in other languages, for example, PHP.
Increased Functionality
JS devs can boost the functionality of web pages by creating JavaScript snippets for third-party add-ons.
Constant Updates
The JavaScript team and ECMA International constantly update and produce new frameworks and libraries to ensure that JS is always relevant.
Server Load
Given that JavaScript operates on the client side, data validation is possible on the browser instead of sending it off to the server.
Greater User Experiences
JavaScript enables adding features that greatly enhance the user interface and experience of a site or application.
Key Takeaways:
- JavaScript is a programming language that allows for creating dynamic content.
- JavaScript is the most widespread programming language as of 2022.
- JavaScript includes many frameworks — code libraries that contain pre-written code.
- You can create interactive websites, web, mobile, smartwatch apps, and server apps with the help of JavaScript.
- The most famous examples of apps and websites built on JavaScript are Facebook, Uber, Netflix, Candy Crush, and LinkedIn.
- The main advantages of using JS include a flat learning curve, speed, interoperability, and a thriving developer community.
