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| 1 | +# An Introduction to JavaScript |
| 2 | + |
| 3 | +Let’s see what’s so special about JavaScript, what we can achieve with it, and what other technologies play well with it. |
| 4 | + |
| 5 | +--- |
| 6 | + |
| 7 | +## What is JavaScript? |
| 8 | + |
| 9 | +JavaScript was initially created to **“make web pages alive.”** |
| 10 | + |
| 11 | +The programs in this language are called **scripts**. They can be written right in a web page’s HTML and run automatically as the page loads. |
| 12 | + |
| 13 | +Scripts are provided and executed as plain text. They **don’t need special preparation or compilation** to run. |
| 14 | + |
| 15 | +In this aspect, JavaScript is very different from another language called **Java**. |
| 16 | + |
| 17 | +--- |
| 18 | + |
| 19 | +## Why is it called JavaScript? |
| 20 | + |
| 21 | +When JavaScript was created, it initially had another name: **“LiveScript.”** But Java was very popular at that time, so it was decided that positioning a new language as a _“younger brother”_ of Java would help. |
| 22 | + |
| 23 | +However, JavaScript became a fully independent language with its own specification called **ECMAScript**, and now it has no relation to Java at all. |
| 24 | + |
| 25 | +Today, JavaScript can execute: |
| 26 | + |
| 27 | +- In the **browser** |
| 28 | +- On the **server** |
| 29 | +- On **any device** with a JavaScript engine |
| 30 | + |
| 31 | +### JavaScript Engines |
| 32 | + |
| 33 | +Different browsers use different JavaScript engines: |
| 34 | + |
| 35 | +- `V8` – in Chrome, Opera, and Edge |
| 36 | +- `SpiderMonkey` – in Firefox |
| 37 | +- Others: `Chakra` (IE), `JavaScriptCore`, `Nitro`, `SquirrelFish` (Safari) |
| 38 | + |
| 39 | +These terms are useful to know because they’re often mentioned in developer articles. |
| 40 | + |
| 41 | +--- |
| 42 | + |
| 43 | +## How do engines work? |
| 44 | + |
| 45 | +JavaScript engines are complex, but here’s a simplified explanation: |
| 46 | + |
| 47 | +1. The engine **parses** the script. |
| 48 | +2. It **compiles** it into machine code. |
| 49 | +3. The machine code is **executed**. |
| 50 | + |
| 51 | +The engine also applies **optimizations** at every step. It even monitors how the code runs and dynamically improves performance as it executes. |
| 52 | + |
| 53 | +--- |
| 54 | + |
| 55 | +## What can in-browser JavaScript do? |
| 56 | + |
| 57 | +Modern in-browser JavaScript is a **safe** language. It doesn't give access to: |
| 58 | + |
| 59 | +- Memory |
| 60 | +- The CPU |
| 61 | + |
| 62 | +Instead, it can: |
| 63 | + |
| 64 | +- Add or change HTML and CSS on the page |
| 65 | +- Respond to user interactions (clicks, key presses) |
| 66 | +- Send/receive requests (AJAX/COMET) |
| 67 | +- Work with cookies |
| 68 | +- Show alerts, confirmations, prompts |
| 69 | +- Store data locally (`localStorage`, `sessionStorage`) |
| 70 | + |
| 71 | +--- |
| 72 | + |
| 73 | +## What CAN’T in-browser JavaScript do? |
| 74 | + |
| 75 | +JavaScript in the browser has limitations for **security reasons**: |
| 76 | + |
| 77 | +- Cannot read/write arbitrary files or access OS-level functions |
| 78 | +- File access is limited to user-initiated actions (e.g. selecting files) |
| 79 | +- Cannot access cameras/microphones without explicit permission |
| 80 | +- Cannot freely interact with other tabs/windows (due to **Same Origin Policy**) |
| 81 | +- Cannot send/receive data from another domain unless explicitly allowed (via CORS) |
| 82 | + |
| 83 | +> Outside of the browser (e.g. in Node.js), many of these limitations do not apply. |
| 84 | +
|
| 85 | + |
| 86 | + |
| 87 | +--- |
| 88 | + |
| 89 | +## What makes JavaScript unique? |
| 90 | + |
| 91 | +JavaScript stands out because of: |
| 92 | + |
| 93 | +1. **Full integration** with HTML/CSS |
| 94 | +2. **Simple things are simple** to do |
| 95 | +3. **Supported by all major browsers** by default |
| 96 | + |
| 97 | +JavaScript is the only technology that brings these together, making it **the most widespread tool** for creating web interfaces. |
| 98 | + |
| 99 | +It can also be used to: |
| 100 | + |
| 101 | +- Build **servers** |
| 102 | +- Create **mobile apps** |
| 103 | +- Develop **desktop applications** |
| 104 | + |
| 105 | +--- |
| 106 | + |
| 107 | +## Languages “over” JavaScript |
| 108 | + |
| 109 | +Many developers want features not natively available in JavaScript. So several **transpiled languages** have emerged: |
| 110 | + |
| 111 | +| Language | Highlights | Developed By | |
| 112 | +| ------------ | -------------------------------------------- | ------------ | |
| 113 | +| CoffeeScript | Cleaner, shorter syntax (loved by Ruby devs) | — | |
| 114 | +| TypeScript | Strong typing for large-scale systems | Microsoft | |
| 115 | +| Flow | Static typing alternative | Facebook | |
| 116 | +| Dart | Can run in its own engine or transpile to JS | Google | |
| 117 | +| Brython | Allows writing browser code in Python | — | |
| 118 | +| Kotlin | Concise, safe, targets browser or Node | JetBrains | |
| 119 | + |
| 120 | +> Even if you use one of these, **knowing JavaScript is essential**. |
| 121 | +
|
| 122 | +--- |
| 123 | + |
| 124 | +## Summary |
| 125 | + |
| 126 | +- JavaScript began as a **browser-only** language, but now runs in many environments. |
| 127 | +- It is the most **widely-adopted** browser scripting language. |
| 128 | +- There are many **transpiled languages**, but understanding JavaScript remains critical for web development. |
| 129 | + |
| 130 | +--- |
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