Why Learn JavaScript?

JavaScript is an incredibly popular programming language, so if you’re considering a career in web or application development, you’ve likely heard its name mentioned at least once or twice. That said, you might not know exactly what JavaScript does, why individuals take the time to learn this versatile language, or how it might benefit you to do the same.

If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, learn more about JavaScript’s use, including why it’s a required skill for certain careers and the numerous reasons that people take the time to learn this language.

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.

Prepare for a Career

You might be curious about the different career paths available to those who know JavaScript. While you should take care to research all relevant skills for your desired career path, JavaScript is a valuable skill set for many development careers, especially if you plan to work on the front end. Below are some of the roles in which JavaScript is beneficial:

• 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 you are most familiar with, as it’s what you interact with whenever 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 back end 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.

Continue Your Programming Journey

If you’re considering learning how to use JavaScript, you likely already have prior experience working with Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). And while these tools can provide a solid foundation in coding, they aren’t actually programming languages. As such, learning JavaScript is an excellent way to gain experience with an actual programming language.

JavaScript is an object-oriented scripting programming language. Because many other popular programming languages are also object-oriented or scripting languages, learning how to use JavaScript serves as a great stepping stone to other languages. Once you’ve gained skills with JavaScript, you can continue your programming journey even further by adding even more languages to your toolbelt. This includes languages like Python, another object-oriented scripting language used for data science, machine learning, and automation, among many others.

Gain Versatile Skills

Another great reason to learn JavaScript is due to its versatility. In addition to making a website more interactive, individuals can use this programming language to build web and mobile applications. Developers also use JavaScript for web-based or mobile-based game development. For example, Bejeweled and Words with Friends 2 are both games built using JavaScript and related frameworks, like React Native.

Additionally, tech professionals can use JavaScript on both the front and back end. While its most commonly used for the front end of websites, Developers can also use it on the back end to communicate with a server or database. To do so, individuals must know how to use Node.js as a run-time environment. Keep in mind, however, that JavaScript’s back end use is still limited. JavaScript is primarily a front end language, and its back-end use is best used as a supplement.

Build a Foundation to Use Frameworks and Libraries

Before using any of JavaScript’s numerous frameworks and libraries, you need to know JavaScript itself. Being able to use these libraries and frameworks is an essential skill for many career paths. That’s because these tools make using JavaScript more efficient and versatile.

In particular, Web Developers may select prewritten code from a JavaScript library, then use it to complete common or frequently-needed tasks. This code can be reused indefinitely, meaning Developers can direct their focus and energy on more complicated tasks rather than writing unique code for every desired feature of a website or application.

Popular JavaScript libraries include jQuery and React JS. Developers use jQuery to quickly call code for use on websites. React JS is an open-source library that’s particularly useful for building user interfaces for websites and applications. In fact, React was initially developed by Meta for use on their social media sites.

Additionally, some frameworks open entirely new ways to use JavaScript. For example, Node.js is a framework that serves as a run-time environment for JavaScript, enabling Developers to use the programming language server-side. In other words, Node.js allows individuals to use JavaScript on the back and front end, where it is more commonly applied.

If you’re interested in learning how to use a JavaScript library like React, you might consider enrolling in Noble’s React Development Bootcamp. In this course, students learn how to build web applications using React.

How to Start Learning JavaScript

Because JavaScript is such a popular and powerful language, there are numerous ways to learn it. Live JavaScript classes follow a specific schedule and allow students to interact directly with instructors and peers as they learn how to code with the language. These classes can take place in either in-person or live online formats and offer a structured curriculum to teach programming skills. Many live courses also offer career support and mentorship services, making them a good option for those looking to change careers.

On-demand or self-paced JavaScript courses provide more flexibility. Individuals can enroll in an asynchronous course and complete coursework as they have time and energy rather than attending classes on any specific schedule. This makes on-demand courses a good option for individuals trying to pick up JavaScript skills on the side as they work a day job or navigate family obligations. That said, students may be unable to ask instructors questions should they need additional guidance.

Noble Desktop also offers free resources and JavaScript tutorials for those who are just starting their learning journey. Noble’s free JavaScript seminar provides an introduction to JavaScript by discussing what you can do with JavaScript, popular JavaScript libraries, and client-side versus server-side JavaScript, among other topics. You may also consider reviewing Noble’s web design and development playlist on YouTube. Finally, if you decide you’re ready to pursue a l ive online or in-person JavaScript course, Noble Desktop has a “Classes Near Me” tool to help you find the perfect course to meet your needs.

Read the full guide on how to learn JavaScript.

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 numerous reasons one might choose to learn JavaScript. To wrap up the conversation, here are a few key takeaways:

• JavaScript is a great language to learn if you want to take your existing programming skills to the next level, particularly if you know how to code with HTML and CSS.
• Because JavaScript can be used on both the front and back end, learning to use this language is incredibly versatile.
• Learning JavaScript can help individuals prepare for carers in web development, mobile or app development, and browser-based game development.
• There are numerous libraries and frameworks that you can use to expand how and when you’re able to use JavaScript.