Numerous surveys and statistics around the world show that JavaScript is the most used and popular programming language in the world. There must be a reason for this. This article explores the reason behind this consistent outcome.
Just about every computing device today runs JavaScript:
- Mobile devices like iPhones, Androids, etc.
- Computer operating systems like Windows, Mac OS, Linux.
- Smart TVs
JavaScript (JS) is a cross-platform, high-level, object-oriented programming language. It is the only viable option software developers have to make web pages interactive. Most applications and functions that make the Internet indispensable to modern life today were developed with some form JavaScript. It is JavaScript that enables software developers to dynamically update webpage content, control multimedia, use animations, pop-up menus, clickable buttons, etc.
Also, JavaScript can be used both on the client-side and on the server-side. This is one main reason for its popularity.
On the client-side, while HTML and CSS languages are used to give structure and style to web pages, JavaScript is needed to add interactive elements that engage users. Webpages will be static without JavaScript.
On the server-side, multiple programming languages can be used, such as PHP, C#, Ruby, Python, and JavaScript (Node.js). With Node.js, you can add server-side functionalities to your applications using JavaScript (JS). Node.js is the game-changer here. It is what enables software developers to use JavaScript as a server-side language, effectively transforming JavaScript from frontend-only use to full-stack (both frontend and backend). Note that prior to the advent of Node.js in 2009, JavaScript was known as a frontend-only programming language.
JavaScript for App Development
When creating applications with JavaScript, software engineers have the options to either code in plain/vanilla JavaScript or use some JavaScript-based framework (and there are so many of them, thanks to JavaScript’s popularity). Vanilla JavaScript should be the first choice for smaller projects. For example, if a developer needs to write simple code to manipulate the DOM in the browsers, they can do it with Vanilla JavaScript.
Actually, vanilla JavaScript should naturally be the first option because there is generally some upfront development environment setup involved in using JavaScript frameworks. With Vanilla JavaScript, you don’t need to go through all the initial environment setup complexities; you just hook up your JavaScript file to your HTML file and you’re good to go.
However, for complex web or mobile application development, JavaScript frameworks are the way to go. This is because while there may be some initial complexities involved in setting up a JavaScript framework’s development environment, things do get simpler in the long run with such setups.
The whole point of a JavScript framework is to simplify work and save time, by pre-implementing everything from vanilla JavaScript, so that software developers only focus on development tasks that are relevant to the product being build. In other words, a JavaScript framework is a bunch of pre-written JavaScript code that allows for easier development of JavaScript-based web or mobile applications.
There are various JavaScript frameworks out there that can very well be used to build robust web and mobile applications. Popular ones that immediately come to mind are Angular, React, React Native, NativeScript, and Vue.
Summary
Hopefully, this article has helped throw some light into why Software Territory is so much into JavaScript application development. Software Territory makes use of JavaScript frontend frameworks like Angular, React or Vue for suitable projects.