JavaScript – How is This Still a Thing? And What is JavaScript Used For?

What is JavaScript and what is JavaScript used for in 2024

JavaScript is one of the most popular programming languages in the world. Did you know that nearly 10 million developers use JavaScript each and every day? According to The State of the Octoverse, it has been the most-used language for more than five years now. Did you know that many of today’s most popular web-based platforms run on JavaScript? Think about it: the likes of Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Google, Wikipedia, YouTube, and so many more us it to build – at least parts – of their products using JavaScript. So there’s no doubt that JavaScript has earned its place in the programming hall of fame for some pretty impressive reasons.

The world uses JavaScript because it’s easy to learn, fast to produce results, and versatile. What’s not to love? Of course, it’s not perfect, but it’s a highly usable, agile, and flexible coding and programming language.

Now, with that said, it’s time to peel back the layers and see what really sets JavaScript apart.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a programming language you can use to build all kinds of things. Without a doubt, its most important use case is to create interactive websites and web apps. But since JavaScript is highly versatile, developers don’t only use it for the user-facing parts of a project (frontend) but also for the server-side (backend), which is responsible for making sure the app does its job and for managing the data.

When JavaScript comes to mind, we think user-facing code first and foremost, and yes, JavaScript was indeed built for the browser and the user-facing parts of websites. Still, with the appearance of Node.js – a tool that allows developers to use JavaScript for writing backend code – we also see more and more companies and projects using it in their backend as well. In fact, it’s a fantastic way to get a backend up in no time and start prototyping ideas.

If we look at the frontend again, we can clearly see that it is the programming language that makes our user-experience on the web more exciting. It makes static webpages interactive, more intuitive, more enjoyable, and much, much more engaging. And that makes all the difference when it comes to web development. Without JavaScript, we’d have mostly static HTML websites. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to experience a beautiful and rich web.

What is JavaScript used for?

We have to thank JavaScript for allowing us to create fun and interactive websites, web platforms and online games. As you can imagine, this popular programming language offers can be used to create so much more than just fun buttons and interactive websites.

One of the key reasons behind JavaScript’s popularity is its flexibility for both frontend and backend development. It’s a versatile language that can handle the full stack, from the user interface to server-side logic. This versatility allows developers to create complex applications using a single language, streamlining the development process and reducing the learning curve. On the frontend, JavaScript powers interactive features in modern web browsers. It brings static HTML pages to life with dynamic content, responsive elements, and smooth animations. JavaScript frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js have taken frontend development to new heights, enabling developers to build powerful, feature-rich web applications with ease.

Enhancing User Experiences

JavaScript improves interactivity and engagement on web pages. It’s the secret sauce behind those dynamic, interactive elements that make websites come alive. With JavaScript, expect animations that glide seamlessly and forms that respond the moment you touch them—qualities that make users eager for more. Studies show that every $1 invested in UX yields $100 in return, a staggering 9,900% ROI.

Backend Solutions Using Node.js

But JavaScript isn’t just limited to the frontend. With the introduction of Node.js, JavaScript has expanded its capabilities to server-side scripting and app development. Who knew JavaScript had a superhero cape? Well under Node.js’s influence it certainly does. From overseeing complex database maneuvers to building bridges between systems via APIs—all without breaking a sweat. Imagine cutting down on your work time while boosting efficiency – that’s exactly what the full-stack strategy has done for those crafting websites.

Leveraging JavaScript frameworks for efficient development

JavaScript frameworks have totally changed the game for building web apps. Frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js provide a structured approach to building complex, interactive user interfaces. These frameworks come with pre-built components, efficient rendering mechanisms, and powerful tooling that accelerate development and ensure maintainable, scalable code. On the backend, frameworks like Express.js and Nest.js simplify server-side development with JavaScript. They’ve got everything you need – top-notch features for dealing with routes, making sense of middleware and weaving together databases that make building the back end fun and fast.

So, here are just a few examples of what JavaScript is used for:

• Drop-down menus or image carousels
• All sorts of fun animations and sounds
• Pop-up windows or chat widgets
• Strategy games you can play in your browser
• Building web servers and back-end infrastructure
• Mobile apps

There are many other real life situation where this programming languages can be used, which is why it’s so popular and why we decided to include in our curriculum.

Should you learn to code in JavaScript?

To clarify if JavaScript is a good language to start with or learn at all, let’s have a look at it from a few different angles: learning difficulty, results, applications, and career opportunities.

It’s Easy

JavaScript is easy to pick up. Its structure and syntax are rather close to English, which makes it less of a problem for first-time coders to get into. Plus, it’s a higher-level language, so you don’t have to worry about all the nitty-gritty details of how computers work. JavaScript takes care of most of the details for you and lets you focus on what you want to create. You also don’t need a complicated setup to get started or a so-called compiler that you need when working with most other languages to translate the written code into something a computer can understand.

With JavaScript, you can type away without a complex setup. You still need to use an editor, but that’s it. If you don’t know where to start, have a look at our “Web Development” course, where we’ll walk you through the necessary steps and provide you with everything you need.

Results & Application

There’s nothing more frustrating than spending hours and hours learning only to be able to do the most basic tasks. With JavaScript, that’s not the case. You’ll get to results fast, and you’ll be able to build exciting projects in no time. Especially if you know a bit of HTML or CSS, you’ll hit the ground running. But if web development is not your thing, don’t despair. While some coding languages are unique to specific platforms, operating systems, machines, or use cases, JavaScript is entirely platform-agnostic and, as we discussed before, versatile. If you prefer the more logic-heavy coding in the backend, it’s still a great choice.

Career Opportunities

Finally, if you’re thinking of making coding your job, you can’t go wrong with JavaScript. There are countless job opportunities and good money to make, too. According to the Complete JavaScript developer salary data from DevSkiller, the average salary for a developer using it is over $109,000 per year in the US. It’s also an exciting field to be in since the community of developers is big and new exciting tools are released almost every minute. You won’t get bored when working with it.

Where to start learning JavaScript?

If you think JavaScript might be the way to go, we believe you’ve made the right choice. At Mimo, we’ve created a great career path focusing on web development, which includes HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to get you to job readiness as fast as possible. Go try it out!

Of course, you can also sign up and start our JavaScript course for free, to get a taste of it.

Are you still till unsure if it’s the right language for you? Then have a look at our post on Learn to Code: Where to Start and Which Language to Learn?.