The era of modern tech is fueled by some of the most versatile, and simplistic notation for writing computer programs. These notations, popularly referred to as programming languages, provide a means for a coder/programmer to write features and functionalities for the computing system to process and perform.
However, these languages have varying degrees of capacity and effectiveness. For building websites, and web-based applications, the most popular is JavaScript.
Want to learn more about the pros of JavaScript for web app development? Then keep reading this article. The crux of what will be discussed here entails:
- Definition of JavaScript
- How JavaScript works
- Benefits of using JavaScript
Let’s dig in…
What is JavaScript Programming Language?
JavaScript is a dynamically-typed programming or scripting language that lets you implement a varying number of features on web-based platforms. They’re the primary language for dynamic web content such as interactive maps, animated designs etc.
As of 2022, 98% of the over 1.8 billion websites worldwide use the JavaScript language for their front end. This massive popularity is due to its numerous benefits, some of which will be discussed in subsequent sections.
How Does JavaScript Work?
Once a source code is written in pure JavaScript, its framework, or libraries, the environment sends the code to a compiler whose task is to translate the syntax to bytecode that the computer understands.
Unlike other languages with compilation steps, JavaScript is pretty direct. Rather, a web browser interpreter directly reads the code, interprets them line by line, and runs those without an error.
Advantages of JavaScript for Web App Development
JavaScript is popularly used for web app development due to the range of benefits it offers. Some of these pros are:
1. It’s a Trusted Stack
Irrespective of the functionalities a tech stack can perform, if it isn’t one that programmers trust, then there’ll always be doubts about the quality of the software.
This is one area in that JavaScript thrives, as it’s considered the most trusted tech stack, and has found multiple applications as frontend and backend language for decades.
A major advantage to the trust the tech community has in the stack is its wide acceptability across all niches, as developers with top-notch expertise in this language work in diverse fields.
2. The Ultimate Client-Side Language
JavaScript is the primary programming language used for integrating end-points and making front ends of web apps.
Most platforms without JavaScript experience a phenomenon where page visitors click a button, but there are no changes to the screen, yet the desired task gets done. However, with JavaScript, there’s a noticeable load time, and items and buttons are clickable.
In short, there’s improved interaction for pages using JavaScript as its frontend scripting language.
3. Total Independence
To make many stacks perform effectively and optimally, you have to install several programs. However, with JavaScript, it works independently and maximally without support from other systems. The only criteria for using the language are to have a functional developer environment, and knowledge of the stack’s syntax.
Additionally, the JavaScript language works fine with every browser. As such, you can check the result of every line of code written directly through your phone’s web browser. Albeit, we can delve into other multiple reasons to buttress the point that it’s a highly independent language, the reason mentioned is the most noteworthy.
4. Easy to Learn
JavaScript, in comparison to other programming languages, is one of the easiest to learn. Firstly, it’s a natural language that follows a simple logic pattern by turning intricate details into simplistic abstracts, ensuring that newcomers can absolve the syntax easily. Also, it doesn’t require anything extra, like a program etc.
Secondly, the technology is open-source, meaning that content creators can develop free content about it on any platform on the internet. This makes it easy for newbies to learn.
5. A powerful stack
Web apps with JavaScript as their primary programming language code better, work faster and manages data better than most other alternatives. JavaScript also has a varying number of frameworks and libraries, ensuring features and functionalities are well-tailored for web apps to derive maximum impact.
6. It can run multiple tasks
JavaScript has an event loop module feature that helps programmers properly optimize multiple tasks running simultaneously. It’s a common misconception that JavaScript codes run slower under certain scenarios, when in fact, it’s simply running multitudes of tasks at once.
7. It features extended functionalities
This feature ensures that third-party technologies can integrate with the programming language. Meaning, you can easily import any feature that the tech stack lacks, without any major disruption to the language’s operation.
Popular JavaScript frameworks like React Native, VueJS etc are known to offer a simplistic guide for developers in need of more functionalities.
8. Multi-Functional Web Applications
A major pro of JavaScript is users’ ability to build super-efficient and multipurpose web apps. Although there is a multitude of languages offering this same feature, the ease offered by JavaScript is unparalleled by others.
9. Speed
JavaScript is fast because it runs immediately on the page viewer’s web browser since it doesn’t require external support to run on a platform and most platforms directly compile the language. The only instance where its features seem slow is due to calls to backend servers. Overall, it’s a preferred stack for anyone in need of a language that guarantees speed without trading off performance.
10. Regular Updates
Since the formation of ECMAScript5 in 2017, the programming has been receiving regular updates to make it easier to use and more developer-centric.
ECMA International is the body that ensures JavaScript gets regular annual updates.
Summary
JavaScript is by far the most popular programming language. This is largely due to the myriad of benefits it offers, some of which are its high-ranging acceptability, effectiveness, ease of use, speed, regular updates, and performance.
