JavaScript facts for kids
JavaScript is a high-level programming language; It was originally designed as a scripting language for websites but became widely adopted as a general-purpose programming language, and is currently the most popular programming language in use; JavaScript is usually found running in a web browser as interactive or automated content, ranging from popup messages and live clocks to large web applications; JavaScript is also commonly used in server-side programming through platforms like Node.js, or "embedded" in non-JavaScript applications where the base programming language lacks the high-level functionality that JavaScript offers;
Despite the similarities in name and syntax, JavaScript is not related to the programming language Java; Though the names of both languages are trademarks of Oracle Corporation, the two languages follow different design principles, and are actively developed by unrelated organizations;
Contents
Use
JavaScript is typically inserted into HTML when used on the web, either directly in the file in a HTML tag, or linking it to a separate file containing the script;
JavaScript, as a full featured scripting language, can be used to provide functionality to a website; Examples include:
- Using AJAX in order to load content without refreshing the website;
- Changing HTML through the Document Object Model
- Changing CSS
- Validating inputs of forms and sending them;
- Tracking users as they move throughout the website;
Frameworks
A majority of websites use what is known as a framework; Frameworks may allow programming to be easier as more predefined procedures are defined within it; Such a library is jQuery;
Beyond web browsers
JavaScript is also used outside of web browsers; As a scripting language, JavaScript can be used to define the behaviour of applications such as extensions in GNOME Shell;
In addition, there are runtime environments for running JavaScript as a server side programming language; Such an environment is Node.js;
Electron is a framework which allows graphical applications to be made with web technologies, by running on the Chromium browser and Node.js;
Syntax
A JavaScript program is made of a collection of instructions called "statements"; A semicolon marks the end of a statement, and allows multiple statements to be placed on the same line; However, it is typical to write each statement on its own line to keep a program file readable;
Variables can be defined in several ways; In an older version named "ES5", variables are defined using the var keyword; In the newer versions after ES5, variables can be defined using const for constant variables and let for local variables; The value of constant variables cannot be re-declared or reassigned; Variables assigned using const or let are contained within blocks, while variables assigned using var are contained within functions;
// ES5
var x = 1;
// ES6+
const y = 10;
let t = 5;
Examples
The script below prints "Example" on the screen; The lines that start with //
are comments, which are used to describe the actions of the program;
function sayHi() {
let name = prompt("What's your name?");
// this name is saved to a variable
alert("Hello " + name);
// whatever the name is, the browser alerts "hello (name)"
// a variable was used (name)
}
sayHi(); // Runs the function sayHi
/* This is also a comment, but it can span multiple lines.
Like this.
*/
In the above code it says "Hello " + name
If you want to put JavaScript in your HTML is, you put between the <script></script>
tags; The tags indicate that it is a script and not text to be put onto the web page; The script below inserts the numbers 1 through 10 at the bottom of a webpage:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<head>
<title>Example page</title>
<script> // This is the script tag
for (let counter = 1; counter <= 10; counter++) {
document.body.innerHTML = document.body.innerHTML + counter + "<br>";
/ This puts the number, then a new line element (<br>),
at the end of the web page.
*/
}
// End javascript: </script>
</head>
<body></body>
The for()
loop makes whatever code is between the {
and the }
happen more than one time; In this case, it keeps looping until numOfTimesAround
is equal to 10, then it stops; This means it equals ten; It's a bit confusing at first, but it works;
Differences between Java and Javascript
- In Java, to define a variable, you have to say what type of variable it is: a number, a word, a letter, or more; In JavaScript, this is not necessary;
- In JavaScript, functions are stored as variables (unlike Java); This makes the following code okay in JavaScript:
function sayHi() {
alert("Hi!");
}
sayBye = function() {
alert("Bye!");
}
sayHi();
sayBye();
- JavaScript is interpreted, but Java, in most cases, must be compiled; This means that JavaScript needs to be run by another computer program (an interpreter), but finished Java can be run as its own program;
Related pages
- References for Core JavaScript versions: 1.5
- New in JavaScript: 1.7 , 1.6
- List of JavaScript releases: versions 1.0 - 1.7
See also
In Spanish: JavaScript para niños