JavaScript

JavaScript was originally developed by Netscape and is one of the most simple, effective and versatile languages. Also, it is a scripting language commonly used in web development, and in many other environments as well. Even more, JavaScript is a prototype-based, multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles. On the other hand, JavaScript can function as a procedural, as well as an object-oriented language, and is often used alongside HTML, CSS and AJAX. JavaScript's syntax is based on ECMAScript and is similar to Java and C, making the language more accessible and easy to learn for developers. One of the main functions of JavaScript is the ability to interact with HTML source code and add dynamic content on the website. Some of JavaScript's dynamic capabilities are dynamic script creation, object introspection, runtime object construction and source code recovery.

Advantages

  • JavaScript saves bandwidth thanks to the fact that is executed on the client side instead of web server
  • It is a relatively easy language – its syntax is based on Java and C and it uses the DOM model which provides prewritten functionality
  • The code is executed on the user’s processor and does not need to be processed by the web server
  • Versatile – can be easily mixed with other languages on a variety of applications, and it can be used in any type of web page
  • Interactive – developers can create dynamic effects, interactions, drop-down menus, webpage text effects, chat rooms, interactive games etc.
  • It has an extensive number of libraries
  • It is supported by most web browsers

Disadvantages

  • JavaScript has security issues – it can be relatively easy to exploit using malicious code
  • Rendering varies – it can render differently depending on the browser, and it is not search engine friendly
  • Standard sets of objects are not supported
  • It has no multithreading or multiprocessor capabilities
  • Complex scripts have longer starting and running time

Components

  • Frameworks (jQuery, Backbone.js, Angular.js etc.)
  • Libraries (React, Handlebars etc.)
  • Animations (Velocity.js, Bounce.js etc.)
  • Game Engines (MelonJS, ImpactJS, PandaJS etc.)

Development tools

  • NetBeans
  • Komodo IDE
  • Eclipse
  • Visual Studio
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