First of all, let’s be clear: Javascript is not Java . Despite the confusion that people usually make about these two languages, Java and Javascript have no direct connection with each other other than Java in the name. With that in mind, let’s move on to defining what Javascript is .
JS or JavaScript is a high-level programming language, created in the mid-90s, more precisely in 1996 by legendary programmer Brendan Eich who, in addition to creating JavaScript, was also one of the founders of Mozilla Corporation .
He created the language when he was still working at Netscape Communications Corporation, originally created to work in the Netscape Navigator browser, his objective was to facilitate processes within web pages, making programming animations and alerts much simpler.
Shortly afterwards, about 1 year after its launch, Microsoft began to accept this language in its browser at the time, which was one of the great drivers for consolidating Javascript as one of the main programming languages today. .
Since then, JScript has undergone several different functions and applications, becoming more versatile and complete over time. Today, for example, it is now possible to use Javascript to create Desktop and Mobile applications, not just web-based applications and browsers.
How does JavaScript differ from other programming languages?
The Javascript programming language allows the developer to implement various highly complex items on web pages, such as animations, maps, graphs or information that updates at standard time intervals, for example.
Javascript is the third layer of the web and front-end development cake, along with HTML, CSS, and PHP.
We have articles talking about what HTML is , what CSS is and what PHP is . They will help you a lot to understand and master Javascript. But even so, let’s give a brief summary of what each of these “layers” of the cake is.
- What is HTML? – It is a markup language that serves to give meaning and structure to web content, such as defining headers, paragraphs, making references or inserting images and videos.
- What is CSS? – It is a style sheet language , which has the role of making a page presentable on the web, directly related to design and appearance.
- What is PHP? – It is a programming language for pages . With it, you can develop dynamic websites, application extensions and speed up the system development process.
- What is JavaScript? – It is a behavioral programming language that allows the creation of dynamic content, media control and animations to make your website more interactive and interesting.
The Advantages of JavaScript
JavaScript has a series of advantages that make it the best choice among its competitors. Especially in certain types of uses and cases. Below are just some of the benefits of using the JS language:
- You don’t need a compiler because internet browsers interpret it with HTML;
- It is easier to learn than other programming languages;
- Errors are much easier to locate and, therefore, to correct;
- It can be assigned to certain web page elements or specific events, such as custom mouse clicks and scrolls;
- It is fully compatible with multiple platforms and browsers;
- You can validate inputs and reduce the need for manual data checks;
- It makes websites much more interactive and holds visitors’ attention for longer, a characteristic that defines user experience (UX).
- It is faster and lighter than other programming languages.
JavaScript Weaknesses
All programming languages have weaknesses. With JavaScript, it’s no different. Part of the problem is that when a programming language becomes as popular as JS, there is an extra incentive for hackers and other types of toxic users to work to find security holes. Thus, some weaknesses of JS are:
- Vulnerable to security breaches;
- Can be used to execute malicious code on the user’s computer;
- It does not always support different browsers and devices;
- Code snippets in JS tend to be quite large;
- It may render differently on various devices, which can lead to inconsistencies.
What We Can Do with JavaScript (Applications)
As we mentioned previously, JavaScript was created as a client-side programming language . In the early 2000s, Google decided to adopt this language to develop some of its applications, such as Gmail , but there was a problem: the JS interpreters that browsers had at the time were very slow. To resolve this situation, the company developed Engine V8 , an open-source JS engine that came as standard in the Google Chrome browser and, as it is open-source and has high performance, it was quickly adopted by the market.
Node.js – A Definition of What Javascript Is
Thanks to the V8 Engine and the new proportions that JS took, several platforms were developed based on this language. One of the most important is Node.js , which opened new doors for Javascript, now also allowing the creation of server-side applications , opening up a new and immense range for developers who wrote programs in this language. With the Node.js platform, it is possible to create applications on a web server and command line using JS.
Mobile
In addition to Web applications, thanks to Node.js and the ecosystem created around it that boosted Javascript even further. Nowadays it is also possible to create Mobile applications using JS using frameworks such as VueJS and Ionic Framework . For example, making the programmer who masters this language even more versatile.
In this article we talk about what Javascript is, we tell you a little about its history, evolution and we try to answer the main questions related to this programming language. We also cover the advantages of making applications, as well as giving examples of applications for this language and framework tips for you to develop your programs. We hope you can get a lot out of this material and understand what JS is! Do you have any questions or do you have a suggestion for us? Use the comments below to send a message! We are very curious to know what you think of our content and services!