What, Why and How of JavaScript

JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted programming language widely used to create dynamic and interactive content on websites alongside HTML & CSS.

We can say JavaScript is the driving force behind various real-world applications. It helps you create single page applications, dynamic forms that validate inputs in real-time rich animations, transitions, interactive graphs, charts, and data visualizations on websites. Whether you’re building a static website or a fully-featured application, JavaScript ensures your project can deliver seamless interactivity and responsiveness.

A Brief History of JavaScript

JavaScript was first developed in 1995 by Brendan Eich, while working at Netscape Communications Corporation. The language was first known as Mocha and later renamed LiveScript before finally being called JavaScript. It gained wide adoption when Netscape submitted it to ECMA International for standardization, leading to the creation of the ECMAScript specification. This is why sometimes you can see JavaScript and ECMAScript used interchangeably even though there are subtle differences between them. (ECMAScript (or ES) is the standard specification on which JavaScript is based)

Since then, JavaScript has undergone significant evolution through standardized versions like ES5, ES6 (also known as ES2015), etc. These updates have brought new features, better performance, and improved developer usability.

JavaScript is used for building

1. Frontend Applications
2. Backend Applications
3. Mobile Applications

Front-End Development

JavaScript is the backbone of interactive web pages.

Using JavaScript you can build Single-page applications (SPAs) that allow users to interact with content dynamically without navigating away from the page. Add interactivity to the page like animations, interactivity, showing and hiding elements, validations to forms without reloading the page, etc.

If you want to build SPAs, check the following out React,Vue.js,Angular, Svelte

For animations motion (prev framer motion), GSAP (GreenSock Animation Platform), Anime.js

Back-End Development with Node.js

With tools like Node.js, JavaScript has moved beyond the browser to the server side. You can use JavaScript for building APIs, handling database interactions, and managing server logic.

Some popular frameworks for back-end development include Express.js, Koa.js NestJS ,Hapi.js, Fastify etc.

Mobile and Desktop Applications

JavaScript also powers mobile and desktop applications, thanks to frameworks and tools like:

Using React Native you can create cross-platform mobile apps, Ionic is another popular framework for building cross-platform mobile apps with web technologies.

If you want to build desktop apps check out Electron