JavaScript Prerequisites

Learning a new skill can be intimidating, and JavaScript is no exception. That said, anyone willing to commit time and energy to learning this programming language can do so. JavaScript has a relatively low barrier to entry when it comes to learning, and there are specific actions you can take to make your learning journey move more smoothly. This includes researching relevant career paths or learning prerequisite web development tools, like HTML and CSS.

In this article, we’ll provide an overview of JavaScript, including how difficult it is to learn to code with this language. We’ll also provide suggestions about actions you can take to make it easier to learn JavaScript.

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.

Is JavaScript Easy to Learn?

JavaScript is a beginner-friendly language, making it easier to learn than some other programming languages. This is particularly true for individuals who have prior experience with coding. Numerous online resources can help individuals learn how to use JavaScript for web development, app development, or browser-based game development. This includes free or low-cost tutorials and videos, such as those on YouTube, Coursera, or Udemy.

Additionally, you might consider enrolling in an online or in-person JavaScript course to learn this programming language, especially if you prefer guided learning rather than self-teaching. Noble Desktop offers an introductory JavaScript for Front-End course that teaches the fundamentals of coding with plain vanilla JavaScript.

What to Know Before Learning JavaScript

There are a few actions you can take to ensure your JavaScript learning journey is as fulfilling as possible. Before enrolling in a JavaScript course or embarking on self-study, take the time to review the prerequisites below.

Relevant Career Paths

Researching relevant career paths before learning JavaScript ensures you gain all the necessary skills to meet your career goals. That’s because JavaScript has a variety of applications and uses within specific fields, industries, and roles. Below are some of the roles in which JavaScript is particularly helpful:

• Front End Developer: Individuals in this role are responsible for building the front end, or client side, of a website. This is the part of a website that you are likely most familiar with, as it’s what you interact with any time you visit a site. In addition to knowing JavaScript, Front End Developers must be proficient in coding with HTML and CSS.

• Full Stack Developer: This role requires skills in both front end languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and backend languages like Python, Python, and Java. That’s because Full Stack Developers work both client and server-side to build the front end of websites and connect them to back end data.

• JavaScript Developer: Those who want to become experts in JavaScript might consider a career path as a JavaScript Developer. While a Front End Developer also styles a website with CSS or creates its basic framework with HTML, JavaScript Developers code almost entirely with this programming language to help make a site more interactive.

Individuals in roles like Front End Developer can find jobs in almost any industry since most organizations today rely on websites to communicate with their stakeholders. This includes both private organizations, like businesses, and public organizations, like government agencies and nonprofits. These organizations might choose to keep an in-house Web Developer on staff to build and maintain websites on their behalf or contract the work out with a freelance or agency-based Developer.

Your Preferred Learning Style

Because there are many different ways to learn JavaScript, understanding your preferred learning style ensures you start your learning journey on the right foot. For example, some people like to learn through self-study. This includes spending time watching online tutorials or practicing JavaScript by completing a project with the programming language.

Others prefer a more formal learning environment, such as an online or in-person class, bootcamp, or degree program. This format is beneficial for individuals who want the opportunity to ask instructors questions and network with peers. A structured course is also a great option for individuals trying to change careers since many courses offer mentorship and career development opportunities. Before enrolling in a course, always review the curriculum and services offered since some programs are better suited to specific career paths than others.

Web Development and Design Principles

A great way to prepare to learn JavaScript is through learning underlying web development and design principles. This includes understanding the best practices around using specific layouts, typography, imagery, and colors, among many other things. While not an absolute requirement, having a general understanding of how these components work together can inform your use of JavaScript.

If you’d like to enroll in a course to learn more about these principles, you may be interested in Noble Desktop’s Web Design Certificate. This course teaches students about web design, including designing and prototyping the user interface of websites and apps with Figma. Students also learn how to code with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, as well as build websites using WordPress. Individuals interested in pursuing careers in web development will appreciate that this course includes 1-on-1 mentorship and career development opportunities.

HTML and CSS

Before learning JavaScript, you must know how to code with Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). That’s because these two tools are fundamental to web development. HTML provides the basic framework for websites, and CSS adds styling elements, like font color, size, and layout. Without these tools, you wouldn’t have anything to apply your JavaScript skills towards.

Fortunately, each of these tools is relatively straightforward to learn. Noble Desktop even offers an Intro to HTML & CSS course that teaches the foundations of these markup languages. This includes learning to code a webpage, format paragraphs, create links, add images, and style pages. Individuals who want to take their HTML and CSS skills a step beyond might also consider Noble’s Web Development with HTML & CSS or Advanced HTML and CSS courses.

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

There are a few prerequisites that can help make your JavaScript learning experience as fulfilling as possible. This includes:

• Researching career paths that use JavaScript so that you can gain all the required knowledge and skills for your desired role.
• Identifying your preferred learning style and seeking out learning opportunities that meet your needs.
• Learning the basic principles behind web development and web design, so you’re ready to add interactivity with JavaScript.
• Understanding how to code with HTML and CSS since they form the foundation of every website.