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Is JavaScript a programming language? That’s a question that has been debated for years. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the arguments for and against JavaScript being considered a programming language.
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Introduction
JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted programming language. It is a language which is also characterized as dynamic, weakly typed, prototype-based and multi-paradigm.
What is JavaScript?
JavaScript, often abbreviated as JS, is a high-level, interpreted programming language. It is a language which is also characterized as dynamic, weakly typed, prototype-based and multi-paradigm.
The History of JavaScript
JavaScript was invented by Brendan Eich in 1995 while working for Netscape. The goal was to create a language that would complement Java by making it easier for non-programmers to create interactive web pages.
The first version of JavaScript (Netscape 2.0) was released in late 1996. It included support for dynamic HTML, frames, and cookies. Microsoft followed suit with its own JavaScript implementation called JScript in Internet Explorer 3.
The latest version of JavaScript (ECMAScript 5) was released in December 2009. ECMAScript is the standard that defines the core behaviour of JavaScript, and it’s maintained by the European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA).
Despite its name, JavaScript is not related to the Java programming language.
JavaScript Versions
JavaScript has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a simple scripting language for web pages. Today, JavaScript is used by developers to build everything from web applications to mobile apps to desktop software. And with the release of new versions of JavaScript, the language continues to evolve.
JavaScript was originally released in 1995 as part of the Netscape Navigator web browser. The first version of JavaScript was known as LiveScript, but it was quickly renamed to JavaScript after Netscape partnered with Sun Microsystems (now Oracle).
Netscape Navigator 2.0, released in 1996, was the first browser to support JavaScript 1.0. In the years that followed, other browsers—including Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox—adopted JavaScript and implemented their own versions of the language.
In 1997, work began on standardizing JavaScript so that all browsers could interpret it in the same way. The standardized version of JavaScript is known as ECMAScript, and the first version (ECMAScript 1) was published in 1997. Since then, there have been several more versions of ECMAScript—with the latest being ECMAScript 2020 (published in June 2020). However, not all browsers support the latest version of ECMAScript—and some browsers only support older versions.
JavaScript Engines
A JavaScript engine is a computer program that executes JavaScript code. The first JavaScript engine was created by Brendan Eich in 1995 for the Netscape Navigator web browser. Since then, many other browsers have been created and they all have their own JavaScript engines.
Today, the most popular JavaScript engine is Google’s V8, which is used in the Chrome web browser and the Node.js server-side JavaScript platform. Other popular JavaScript engines include Microsoft’s Chakra and Mozilla’s SpiderMonkey.
JavaScript engines are not limited to web browsers and server-side platforms. There are also many standalone JavaScript engines that can be used to run JavaScript code outside of a web browser or server environment. For example, there are engines that can be used to run JavaScript on desktop computers, mobile devices, embedded devices, and even gaming consoles.
JavaScript Syntax
JavaScript syntax is the set of rules which defines a correctly structured JavaScript program. It dictates how JavaScript code should be written to ensure that it is valid and can be interpreted correctly by web browsers.
There are three main parts to JavaScript syntax:
-Comments: These are used to add notes and reminders to your code, and are ignored by web browsers when your code is run. They start with // for single-line comments, or /* and */ for multi-line comments.
-Declarations: These are used to create variables, which are like placeholders for storing data values. A declaration starts with the keyword var, followed by the variable name and an equal sign (=). The value you want to store in the variable goes after the equal sign. For example: var myName = “John”; // This declares a variable called “myName” and gives it the value “John”.
-Statements & Expressions: Statements are instructions which tell the browser what to do, while expressions are units of code which produce a value when evaluated. For example, 3 + 4 is an expression which evaluates to 7, while alert(3 + 4) is a statement which pops up an alert box containing the text 7.
Is JavaScript a Programming Language?
JavaScript is a programming language that is used by many websites and web applications. It is also used in server-side programming, game development, and desktop applications. JavaScript is a versatile language that has many features that make it a popular choice for developers. However, some people argue that JavaScript is not a true programming language.
The Definition of a Programming Language
A programming language is a formal language that specifies a set of instructions that can be used to produce various kinds of output. Programming languages are typically used to create programs that will run on a computer or other type of devices.
What Makes a Language a “Real” Programming Language?
To be honest, there’s no clear cut answer. It’s a bit like asking, “What is art?” Some people will tell you that art is anything that’s creative and expresses emotion. Others will say that art is only “real” art if it’s created with a certain medium, like paint on canvas. And still others will say that art is only “real” art if it follows certain rules or passes certain tests.
Similarly, there are different opinions on what makes a language a “real” programming language. Some people will say that a language is only a “real” programming language if it can be used to write programs that are efficient and error-free. Others will say that a language is only a “real” programming language if it can be used to write programs that are easy to read and understand. And still others will say that a language is only a “real” programming language if it can be used to write programs that are portable (i.e., they can run on different types of computers without modification).
So, what is JavaScript? Is it a “real” programming language?
Some people would say yes, because:
JavaScript is used to write programs that are efficient and error-free.
JavaScript is used to write programs that are easy to read and understand.
JavaScript is used to write programs that are portable (i.e., they can run on different types of computers without modification).
The Evolution of JavaScript
JavaScript started out as a simple scripting language for web pages, but it has evolved into a powerful programming language. Today, JavaScript is used for server-side development, desktop applications, mobile apps, and more.
Conclusion
JavaScript is a programming language. It was created with the purpose of running code in web browsers to make webpages more interactive. Despite the name, it is not related to the Java programming language. JavaScript is manage code that runs on a client’s computer instead of a server. That means it runs directly in the browser and behaves just like any other programming languages such as C# or Python.
