JS: A multipurpose programming language

JS (JavaScript) has marked a before and an after in the software development industry.

Many companies that are dedicated to developing software, mobile apps and web design based their products in JS.

What is JS?

JavaScript is a scripting or programming language that allows you to implement complex features on web pages — every time a web page does more than just sit there and display static information for you to look at — displaying timely content updates, interactive maps, animated 2D/3D graphics, scrolling video jukeboxes, etc. — you can bet that JavaScript is probably involved.

JS is a programming language for web development.

JavaScript is a non-compiled programming language, it is interpreted on web browsers and runs despite you are using a PC or mobile devices.

Along HTML (Markup language) and CSS (Style rules), are the tools every Frontend developer must learn.

When it was created, JS was only used for frontend development (Client-side). Nowadays, both frontend and backend (Server-side) can be developed using JavaScript, and that has increased its popularity. The most common framework for backend development in JS is NodeJs.

History of JS (short version)

During the early years of the web, web pages were only static, with no capability for dynamic behavior and interactivity. As a result, there was an urge in the web development community at the time to eliminate this limitation. This led Netscape to the decision to add a scripting language to the Navigator browser.

In September 1995, a Netscape programmer named Brendan Eich developed a new scripting language in just 10 days. It was originally called Mocha, but quickly became known as LiveScript and, later, JavaScript.

The language derived its syntax from Java, its first-class functions from Scheme, and its prototype-based inheritance from Self. Since then, JavaScript has been adopted by all major graphical web browsers.

Currently, JavaScript belongs to Oracle and is used by a lot of companies.

What is JS used for?

Frontend:

JS with HTML and CSS are the default tools for developing client-side websites.

Backend:

With server-side frameworks, like NodeJs, JS works for backend developments. This means that JS is a full stack programming language.

The event-driven, non-blocking nature of Node.js frameworks is one of the reasons it is a popular choice for developers designing a flexible and scalable backend. 

Mobile apps:

For mobile app developers, JavaScript uses include responsive user interfaces. JavaScript can create buttons that change color when tapped, or dropdown menus that appear after pressing on an icon.

In addition, JavaScript can power the back end of mobile applications. Developers program JavaScript to create database models and to query data from databases.

JavaScript can also create application programming interfaces (APIs) that mobile applications later use to communicate with other applications or services.

Machine Learning:

Machine Learning can be math-heavy. The nature of neural networks is highly technical, and the jargon that goes along with it tends to scare people away.

This is where JavaScript comes to help, with easy to understand software to simplifying the process of creating and training neural networks.

With new Machine Learning libraries, JavaScript developers can add Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to web applications.There are different ML libraries for JavaScript. You can program your algorithms and train them using JS.

Web apps

Various JavaScript frameworks are used for developing and building robust web applications. In an application like Google Maps, if users want to explore a map, all they have to do is click and drag the mouse to get a detailed view. This is powered by JavaScript, which interacts with the browser without communicating with the servers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, JavaScript stands as the cornerstone of modern software development, delineating a transformative trajectory from its early days as a scripting language for dynamic web pages to its current status as a multifaceted tool shaping both frontend and backend development. Evolving beyond its initial confines, JavaScript, bolstered by innovations like Node.js, now seamlessly integrates into full-stack development, demonstrating remarkable adaptability. Its impact extends far beyond web design, permeating diverse domains such as mobile app development, machine learning, and web applications. JavaScript's enduring significance lies in its ability to empower developers to create responsive, interactive, and innovative digital solutions. As it continues to evolve with new frameworks and libraries, JavaScript remains an indispensable force, leaving an indelible mark on the ever-evolving landscape of the software development industry.

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