Stack Diary / Reference

JavaScript

JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted programming language conforming to the ECMAScript specification. Originally developed by Brendan Eich in 1995 for Netscape Navigator, it’s now one of the core technologies of the web, alongside HTML and CSS.

Overview

JavaScript is primarily used for enhancing web pages to provide for a more dynamic and interactive experience for users. However, its usage has expanded to various areas like server-side scripting (Node.js), mobile application development (React Native, Ionic), desktop applications (Electron), and more.

Characteristics

  • Multi-paradigm: JavaScript supports multiple programming paradigms—it’s event-driven, functional, and supports object-oriented programming as well.
  • Dynamic: JavaScript is a dynamically typed language. You don’t have to specify the data type of a variable when declaring it. The type will automatically be determined by the value it holds.
  • Interpreted: JavaScript is interpreted, not compiled. The client’s browser interprets JavaScript via the JavaScript engine.

Key Concepts

  • Variables: Variables are containers for storing data values. In JavaScript, variables can be declared using var, let, and const.
  • Data Types: JavaScript has dynamic data types including Number, String, Boolean, Object, Null, Undefined, and Symbol.
  • Functions: Functions are blocks of code designed to perform a particular task. They are executed when they are invoked (called). Functions can be defined using the function keyword, or as an arrow function (=>).
  • Objects: JavaScript objects are containers for named values. You can think of objects as a collection of variables or functions, referred to as properties and methods when they are in objects.
  • Events: JavaScript is often used to manipulate HTML and respond to user interactions. This is done through events, which are actions that can be detected by JavaScript.
  • DOM Manipulation: JavaScript can change all the HTML elements, attributes, and CSS in the page, or react to all the existing events. The Document Object Model (DOM) represents the structure of a web page and can be interacted with using JavaScript.

Examples

Here are some simple examples of JavaScript usage:

  • A simple variable declaration and assignment:
let greeting = "Hello, World!";
console.log(greeting);
  • A function that adds two numbers:
function add(a, b) {
  return a + b;
}
console.log(add(2, 3));  // prints 5
  • An object with properties and a method:
let person = {
  firstName: "John",
  lastName: "Doe",
  fullName: function() {
    return this.firstName + " " + this.lastName;
  }
};
console.log(person.fullName());  // prints "John Doe"
  • An event handler that changes text in an HTML element when a button is clicked:
document.getElementById("myButton").onclick = function() {
  document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "Hello, World!";
};

Tools and Frameworks

Numerous tools and frameworks have been built around JavaScript to speed up and simplify its development process, including:

  • Libraries like jQuery, React, Vue.js, and Angular for building user interfaces.
  • Backend frameworks like Express.js, Koa.js, and Hapi.js in Node.js environment.
  • Build tools like Webpack, Rollup.js, and Parcel.
  • Testing frameworks like Jest, Mocha, and Jasmine.
  • Transpilers like Babel, which allows developers to use the latest JavaScript features that are not yet supported by all browsers.

JavaScript continues to evolve with new features and updates introduced regularly through ECMAScript standards. Its versatility and ubiquity make it a must-know for any web developer.