Before learning any programming language you should know that there are two categories of programming languages interpreted programming language and compiled programming language.
Interpreted programming languages
A program written in an interpreted language can be run right away. For JavaScript, this means you can run the program straight from the browser itself.
Compiled programming languages
A compiled programming language must first go through an external compiler before it can be executed. Most languages – Java, Python, Ruby, etc. – are like that.
All web programming languages can be divided into two groups Server-side scripts and client-side scripts.
Server-side scripts
A server-side program (or script) is executed on the web server where web pages are actually stored.
Client-side scripts
Client-side scripts does not have to deal with the server but will run on the client machine.
, Or we can say that a client-side program is executed on the user’s web browser itself.
If you are looking to learn JavaScript than you may have the question what kind of programming language JavaScript is. Well JavaScript or JS is a client-side script.
If you want to be a front-end developer than learning JavaScript is essential for you.
Hope that you have got an idea about the JavaScript, now you may be thinking about what specific purpose JavaScript is being used, don’t worry your question is answered below.
Uses of JavaScript:
Detecting User Interaction such as mouse clicks, button clicks, mouse movements etc.
Visibility toggling of sections of a webpage.
Form Validation.
Data submission without refreshing the webpage.
Animating a webpage section.
Creating alerts, new browser windows, etc.
DOM (Document Object Model) manipulation, although it is an advanced topic and you do not have to worry about it until you are comfortable with basic JavaScript.
Do You think JAVA and JavaScript are same?
Note that JAVA and JavaScript are not same, JavaScript is not a full pledged programming language but JAVA is.
Java is a powerful object oriented programming language used for creating complex, platform-independent (i.e. they can run on any operation system) programs.On the other hand JavaScript programs can only run within a web browser. Java is heavily used in business software, while JavaScript is limited to use in web pages.
What tools will you need to write JavaScript programs?
Only a web browser and a text editor as simple as notepad.
As JavaScript is a client-side script and it runs in every internet-browser (installed on every PC/laptop) you do not need any extra tools for creating and running JavaScript programs.
