What to Learn After JavaScript

As one of the most popular programming languages in the world, JavaScript is an incredibly valuable language to know. This is particularly true for those involved in web or application development. If you already know how to use JavaScript, you might consider learning how to use JavaScript’s libraries and frameworks, other programming languages like Python, and web development platforms like WordPress. We’ll cover these skills below so you clearly understand what you may want to tackle next.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a programming language that was created in 1995 by Brendan Eich. The language was originally intended to be a straightforward scripting language that could speed up input validation on websites. In recent years, JavaScript has exploded in popularity and is used for much, much more. This programming language is most commonly used for web, application, and browser-based game development. It is a foundational skill for anyone who wants to pursue a career in one of those fields.

In particular, JavaScript helps Developers add interactive components to the website, application, or game they’re working on. Part of what makes this language so popular is that it can be used on any browser. JavaScript is also free to use, making it widely accessible to anyone who wants to learn it. Similarly, the many libraries and frameworks that help make JavaScript so versatile, including React, Node.js, and Express, are also open-source.

Read more about what JavaScript is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with JavaScript?

Imagine visiting a website but being unable to interact with anything. Nothing moves or changes color when you hover over it, and as you scroll through the page, everything is just a static image or text. Sounds pretty boring, doesn't it?

Now, think about a website you’ve recently visited. It’s likely that as you scrolled through the page, graphics popped into view with a flourish. You may have noticed an image carousel that automatically shifted from photo to photo, or a button that changed color when you hovered over it. When you wanted to navigate to another page on the website, you clicked a hamburger menu that exposed clickable links to these pages.

All of this is made possible with JavaScript, which adds interactive elements to websites that would otherwise be entirely static. While HTML and CSS, two languages fundamental to web design, are static by design, JavaScript makes websites more responsive and engaging to viewers. This helps ensure visitors spend as much time interacting with a website’s various components as possible.

In addition to web development, individuals also use JavaScript to build mobile and web applications. In fact, popular social media sites rely upon JavaScript and its associated frameworks, like React, to build the user interfaces of their applications. Likewise, Developers use JavaScript to build browser-based games (Bejeweled, anyone?), making this language both a highly useful and enjoyable one to learn.

Libraries, Frameworks, and Run-Time Environments

JavaScript has numerous libraries and frameworks that increase its versatility and uses. Many of these tools are also open-source, making them accessible to anyone who wants to learn. In particular, you might consider learning how to use:

• React
• Node.js
• Express.js
• MongoDB

For example, React is a JavaScript library developed by Meta to build attractive, interactive user interfaces, while Node.js is a run-time environment that enables individuals to use JavaScript server-side. Noble Desktop offers a React Development Bootcamp that teaches individuals how to build web applications with this library. By the end of the course, students will have learned how to build multiple web applications using this tool.

Python

While JavaScript can be used server-side with the use of Node.js, other programming languages are more well-known for being focused on the back end. This includes Python, another popular object-oriented programming language. This highly versatile language is handy for individuals who anticipate working with large amounts of data or want to complete machine learning or automation tasks. This includes positions in the field of data science.

You can learn Python by enrolling in Noble’s Python for Data Science Bootcamp. In this class, individuals learn the basics of using Python, including understanding data types and using functions and methods. Additionally, students learn how to use NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib for filtering, cleaning, analyzing, and visualizing data.

WordPress

If you’re comfortable using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, you’ll likely need to apply them to WordPress at some point. In fact, some courses even teach WordPress alongside these codes since so many people rely on this platform for their web hosting and development. In particular, you can use JavaScript to supply additional interactivity and dynamism to the basic templates included in WordPress.

Noble’s WordPress Bootcamp course is a great way to learn this tool. This class teaches you how to create pages and edit content using WordPress’s existing tools and themes. Perhaps more importantly, students also learn when adding their own unique code may be more beneficial to further improve WordPress’s functionality.

Learn JavaScript with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers hands-on JavaScript training opportunities that meet the needs of various learning styles and scheduling considerations. Each of its courses features small class sizes so that you can receive individualized support from Noble’s expert instructors. This is the case whether you attend a class live online or in person at the school’s Manhattan campus. Noble Desktop also provides a free retake option for anyone who wants to complete the course again within one year of completion.

Its JavaScript Programming Bootcamp provides students with a foundation in using JavaScript. In particular, this course teaches about object-oriented programming, variables, functions, and data types, among many other topics. By the end of the class, students will know how to build web applications using JavaScript and be familiar with its libraries and frameworks. Before enrolling in this class, you should be comfortable coding with HTML and CSS.

Noble’s JavaScript Development Certificate takes JavaScript learning a bit further. In this course, students practice building web applications with JavaScript and learn how to use React, Node.js, Express.js, and MongoDB to expand the versatility of this programming language. Additionally, students have the chance to apply their learning to specific projects and build up a portfolio that can be used when applying to jobs in the field.

You may also consider Noble’s Front End Web Development Certificate. This course teaches JavaScript in addition to HTML, CSS, and WordPress while providing experiential learning opportunities. Certificates at Noble Desktop also offer students individual career mentoring sessions to help them polish their resumes and portfolios, and give them tips on how to stand out in a competitive job market.

Key Insights

• JavaScript is a valuable programming language to know and is commonly used for web and application development.
• If you already know JavaScript, you may consider learning some of the following:
• JavaScript libraries and frameworks like React, Node.js, and Express.js.
• Python, particularly if you plan to work server-side.
• WordPress, since it is one of the most popular web development platforms.
• Noble Desktop offers courses that teach each of these skills.