JavaScript - One of the most popular, versatile, feature-loaded, flexible and efficient web programming languages. Created by Brenden Eich in 1995, it is now widely used in a variety of devices like computers, mobile phones, tablets, television sets etc. to display web applications in a large number of formats performing a variety of functions. A regular web application will be time consuming if it has to produce fast and exquisite pages in response to user interactions using HTML, CSS or other languages. JavaScript transforms a web browser in such a manner that it produces instant reports, pages in quick response to user data. In other words, it programs the browser to perform a lot of tasks which would have been done by many other linked applications slowly and in a burdensome manner. The browsers are now not only fast but also more productive in use.
First developed as an alternative to Microsoft’s ASP language by Netscape
for its Netscape Navigator browser, it has grown since the Internet boom began.
Since web users need fast, accurate, responsive as well as elegant web sites,
other programming languages like Java, C, C++, HTML etc. could not be used.
Hence, a programming language that could process dataPhoto Credit: Needpix.com
at the browser level itself without going through the long server-side process was the need of the time. JavaScript combines the HTML type markup using tags with the Java, C++ type programming to produce fast, interactive, dynamic web pages for the users. JavaScript comes through all the versions being ES1, ES2, ES3, ES4, ES5 and currently ES6 versions. It has some very interesting features like object-oriented programming for faster, modular and secure pages, to inbuilt functions, JSON objects, DOM (Document Object Model) feature to modify the entire page fast, Event programming, Arrays to frameworks like Angular, Nodejs, Bootstrap, Express.js, Spring etc. libraries like React etc. Alongside, it enables the Console tool which a developer can instantly view the program output in the browser console itself.
It has lately left behind many other programming languages viz- Python,
Java in today’s world of mobile revolution, scalable web pages as well the
elegance and dynamism of the web. A recent study shows JavaScript’s versatile,
feature loaded and wide capabilities have made it indispensable for web
applications. It has been used to create popular apps like Netflix, Candy Crush
Saga, Facebook, Uber, Ebay, Groupon etc. Given its C, C++, Java type
programming structure it easily allows programmers to develop apps
alternatively and more easily. Moreover, its HTML embedding allows it to be
used for processes very easily for dynamic and featured web pages. It can used
for Frontend as well as Backend web development. Thus it can help store, retrieve
data from backend devices as well as display them easily in web pages. Hence,
we can develop full-stack web applications using one language. For mobile
games, frameworks like React Native, Phaser, PixiJS etc. help develop fast and
portable mobile games. It has database frameworks like MongoDB, NodeJS etc. to
accomplish a lot in the web app development and deployment world.
However given the fast changing nature of web apps, it has to keep pace
with transitions coming. Python has an upper hand in dealing with AI and
AI-based services. New libraries like TensorFlow.js, Brain.js, Synaptic will
use machine learning to train apps within JavaScript. On the other hand, AI
integration in the web browsers will also enhance the capabilities of JS in
creating and running interactive and dynamic webpages. In addition, new
serverless models of web development, Web Assembly, better JavaScript Engine
development, Framework evolution will help it retain its supremacy in the web
app development and deployment business.