JavaScript is one of the web’s most powerful and adaptable programming languages. Most websites, including this one, use it to fuel dynamic behavior.
To argue that JavaScript is a developer’s best (digital) friend is an exaggeration, but it would be difficult to get by without it.
A developer’s odds of not having to learn or utilize JavaScript at some time in their careers are minimal to none; even if a position doesn’t demand it on a daily basis, candidates must demonstrate their grasp of it during the interview stage.
What Is Javascript?
JavaScript is a free scripting language that may be used on both the client and server sides. It’s text-based and works in tandem with HTML and CSS to improve code functionality and add interactive features. In other words, JS may liven up otherwise dull and stagnant web pages. Because JS is an interpretive language, it does not require compilation. Separate JavaScript files with the extension for large projects with a lot of interactive material. JavaScript are developed. The script> tag, on the other hand, can be used to embed JS in HTML code. Interactive maps, live news updates, form validations, and constructing landing pages are all examples of typical JS applications.
The following is a simple JS program:
Copied!<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <body> <h2>JavaScript Example</h2> <p id="demo">I will change once you Click! the button...</p> <button type="button" onclick='document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "Hello Beautiful!"'>Click!</button> </body> </html>
Because of the onClick JavaScript event, the text changes when the button ‘Click!’ is clicked!
JavaScript revolutionized the way the world saw browsers. It enabled the creation of complicated websites and the digitization of the entire business process! The following are some of the benefits of JavaScript:
- High performance: JS is lightweight & fast as it can be immediately run on the browser (client machine)
- Simple and popular: We have been using it for ages, and it hasn’t lost the hold!
- Interoperable: can be used with a variety of other languages and applications
- Reduces server load as it works on the client-side
- Makes pages lively, dynamic, and rich
- It comes with many free tools to enhance functionality
- The functionality of JS can be extended to the backend using Node.js
Why Should You Learn Javascript?
According to a recent survey performed by Stack Overflow, JavaScript is the most used programming language in the world, with 69.7% of the 90,000 developers asked citing it as their most-used programming talent. It’s a necessary talent for all levels of developers, from entry-level young developers to the most senior programming experts.
How to Learn Javascript
1. Self-Guided Websites and Courses
Above all things, the Internet is a knowledge repository. Flexible online courses may be the educational solution for you, whether you prefer self-guided study or simply don’t have the time to enroll in a formal program. These free and paid online courses will show you how to learn JavaScript quickly, but remember that “free” does not automatically imply “better.” Free apps frequently lack direction and support compared to their premium counterparts. Make sure you do your homework before enrolling in your first lesson!
Introduction to JavaScript
- Offered by: FreeCodeCamp
- Free
- This course is for prospective programmers who have little or no experience with JavaScript. Its classes cover web programming, data types, JavaScript objects, and loops in depth. Students can demonstrate and reinforce their technical knowledge by taking a code test at the end of each lesson in this course.
Intro to JS: Drawing & Animation
- Offered by: Khan Academy
- Free
- This free course teaches students how to use simple JavaScript code to produce graphics and animations, as the name implies. It uses a variety of videos, textual guidelines, and exercises to structure its teachings.
JavaScript Guide
- Offered by: Mozilla Development Network (MDN)
- Free
- MDN’s JavaScript Guide, while not technically a course, includes thorough written tutorials that can take developers of all skill levels through the capabilities of JavaScript. These instructions are divided into four sections, each aimed at a different audience: amateurs, beginners, intermediate programmers, and specialists.
Modern JavaScript From the Beginning
- Offered by: Udemy
- Paid
- This premium package includes over 20 hours of on-demand video content and a collection of downloadable resources for JavaScript novices. Students can work at their own speed and access course materials through computers, mobile devices, and television.
Introduction to JavaScript
- Offered by: Codecademy
- Paid
- The core principles of JavaScript, including data types and functions, objects, control flows and loops, are covered in depth in this premium curriculum. It also includes post-lesson quizzes and practical tasks to reinforce what you’ve learned so far.
2. Books
If you’re unsure, read a book. While there are other books that can provide practical programming insights, the volumes listed below are especially valuable for aspiring programmers who wish to learn JavaScript rapidly.
JavaScript for Kids
- Nick Morgan
- Don’t be fooled by the title. While Nick Morgan’s fun prose was designed for a youthful readership, the teachings are simple and easy to understand for adults as well. This book provides simple explanations of the fundamentals of strings, arrays, and loops, as well as more advanced studies of jQuery and visual development. It also includes step-by-step tutorials for programming simple games.
You Don’t Know JS: Up & Going
- Kyle Simpson
- You Don’t Know JS isn’t a book for complete beginners, as the title may suggest. It may apply to them, but it isn’t just for beginners. “It’s easy to learn bits of JavaScript, but much harder to master it completely — or even enough — whether you’re new to the language or have used it for years,” says the book’s back flap. You’ll gain a more complete understanding of JavaScript with the ‘You Don’t Know JS’ book series, which includes tougher aspects of the language that many experienced JavaScript programmers simply skip.” This is the first of a series of articles that delves into the technical details of JavaScript. It covers both the “basic building blocks of programming” and the fundamentals of JavaScript.
Eloquent JavaScript: A Modern Introduction to Programming
- Marjin Haverbeke
- For people with little or no expertise with JavaScript, this material gives a solid foundation and context. The book’s goal is to show readers “how to develop beautiful, successful code.” The lessons at Haverbeke focus on the fundamentals of programming, including grammar, control, data, and functional programming techniques. He also gives step-by-step instructions for creating dynamic programs like a life simulation and a paint program.
3. Coding Boot Camps
Perhaps self-education isn’t for you. While you know you could study through an on-demand self-guided course or the activity chapters of a book, you’d like a little extra help and guidance during your educational journey, as well as a certificate at the end.
If this is the case, a coding boot camp may be the best option for you. Boot camps have risen to prominence in recent years as a way to obtain marketable skills rapidly and without investing the time or money required by standard four-year university programs. Depending on whether the boot camp follows a part-time or full-time schedule, the normal boot camp lasts between a few weeks and a few months.
Because of this short time frame, a coding boot camp is one of the greatest ways to learn JavaScript quickly so you can get back to work (or look for a more attractive position with your newly acquired skills). According to a 2019 Course Report analysis, enrolment for virtual boot camp programs climbed 171 percent between 2018 and 2019, while the coding boot camp market as a whole expanded by 49 percent over the same time period.
A coding boot camp may be worth it if you want to learn JavaScript quickly without taking a long absence from work. It’s difficult to find a boot camp that exclusively teaches one programming language, but why wouldn’t you if you can learn other useful skills while honing your JavaScript talents?
4. Meetups and Networking Events
When you’re looking for the greatest ways to learn JavaScript, “networking” is definitely not the first (or most conventional) response that comes to mind, but it’s one of the most useful.
Attending meetups and networking events can provide significant educational benefits. If you want to learn JavaScript rapidly, attend to a panel about the language. You’ll be able to learn from people who have a lot of expertise with it. The learning, however, does not end with the presentation; it continues in the subsequent interactions.
“You can believe to yourself, ‘I don’t need friends.’ ‘I’m all right.’ In a Forbes piece, business and career writer Peter Tourian said, “Trust me, this kind of interaction with like-minded colleagues is exactly what you need.” “It feels wonderful to serve others, and it’s amazing how much you learn and receive just by doing your best to help others.”
Sometimes the best method to learn JavaScript is to speak with others who are learning, exploring, and achieving alongside you, rather than sitting with your nose to the grindstone or in a book.
5. Starting Your Own Projects
What was the point of knowing anything in the first place if you didn’t put it into practice? At some point, ambitious developers will need to move away from tutorials and into real-world programming. But the transition isn’t always easy.
Moving outside the safe confines of step-by-step projects and creating an app from scratch can be daunting. However, if you keep looking for instructions, you’ll never be able to use your imagination or take your initial steps into independent development. Programming is the most effective way to learn how to code, but you don’t have to start with a large project right away.
Begin small. When you’re ready to put your JavaScript abilities to work on a real project, rather than beginning from scratch, consider adding a feature to a program you made in a lesson. Alternatively, you can start with an existing framework and build Chrome extensions from there. If you require assistance, consider collaborating on a project with a friend.
The initial attempt to remove the tutorial training wheels is always the most difficult. Don’t know where to begin? To apply your JavaScript expertise to a new project, try a couple of the projects listed below!
Build a Drum Kit
You may create a digital drum set using JavaScript that allows you to play different sounds using a home-built keyboard. You can use event listeners, key codes, and CSS transitions to sync your JavaScript code. To begin, follow Varun Barad’s instructions on Dev.
Tic-Tac-Toe
The most basic games can sometimes lead to the most useful enterprises. To make a playable, repetitive game with JavaScript, follow Ethan Ryan’s instructions on Level Up.
Conclusion
So, if you want to learn JavaScript, you should:
- Use one of the above mentioned sources to kick-start your development journey.
- Learn JavaScript methods and features that you will use most of the time.
- Practice JavaScript by coding for at least 30 minutes to one hour a day and take weekend breaks.
- Build projects, as it is the best way to solidify your JavaScript knowledge for the long term.
- Learn how to debug errors so that you can solve your Javascript problems more quickly and keep progressing with your skills.
That’s all there is to it. These are the tools and materials you’ll need to learn JavaScript. I hope you found this post useful, and thank you for taking the time to read it.
If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments section below; you will receive a response!
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope you learnt a lot!
If you loved this lesson, please share it on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or any other social media platform! It aids our development and allows more people to benefit from it!
Leave a Reply