According to studies, JavaScript is the most frequently used programming language. More than two-thirds of those polled said they wanted to utilize it in 2020.
The world of programming languages is always evolving to accommodate the needs of companies and their clients. There are an estimated 2500 programming languages in use today. However, that is just a ballpark and there is no exact number for the same.
Although certain languages are quite powerful and popular, there are just a handful of them that stand out. JavaScript is one of those. JavaScript developers may now create applications for any platform, including mobile, web, Internet of Things (IoT), or servers.
If you are thinking about what makes JavaScript stand out, we will explain why it is so popular, and guide you on how to utilize it in your projects.
What is JavaScript, and where does it come in handy?
To utilize JavaScript for a web page, you must have JavaScript installed. Programming languages that may be rendered in a web browser have historically consisted of four elements:
- Java, C++, and HTML5.
- An important part of a website’s design is HTML, responsible for its structure.
- Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
- JavaScript handles the dynamic interactions between the page components.
JavaScript is the only one of them that can be used to communicate with the user. If you want to build animations, carousels, and more, JavaScript is a great tool for you. As a developer, you may even leverage this to create browser-based applications.
JavaScript for Frontend and Backend
When it comes to developing with JavaScript, many programmers are completely content with the default features provided by the language. The best thing about this language is that it is used for both frontend and backend development. Let us look at its roles in both:
- JavaScript for Frontend
It might come as a surprise that JavaScript can be used as a frontend language. However, it is true that it offers frontend development features and fits in well with the requirements. It is a powerful tool that helps improve the general interactivity of a website. With the ability to create rich UI elements like pop-ups, tabs, sliders, accordions, etc., it helps you add to the user experience. The web pages created using JavaScript update dynamically and respond to user activity in a customized manner.
Additionally, there are countless plugins created for JS. Developers can use these plugins to improve the UX of a website. While they are mostly 3rd-party plugins, they help developers add forms, social media sharing buttons, banners, ads, etc. to web pages. The other technical features that make JS useful for frontend development are its compatibility across different web browsers and AJAX.
Not to mention, there are many JavaScript-based frameworks that are used for front-end web development.
- JavaScript for Backend
Without a doubt, JavaScript is one of the most popular backend languages. This scripting language works behind 73 technologies and more than 21 million websites. For a majority of these sites, JS works on the backend.
The reason behind such popularity of JS for backend development is that it allows the unification of the codebase. Thus, the development gets fast and cost-effective. Also, it offers many libraries and frameworks like Node.js that make backend development easier and faster. The end results of JS backend development are also quite impressive.
When used for the backend, JavaScript allows easy development. The developers don’t have to go through complicated codes and components to get the work started. It is because JS is a simple language and all the JavaScript backend frameworks come with lots of simple yet useful features.
The frameworks allow developers to easily deal with a large amount of information in real-time and perform concise web development. With high levels of data streaming, you can create web apps that can be run on different platforms without hassle.
Large communities of developers support most JavaScript frameworks that are used for backend development. So, once you begin the development, you can easily get the help you need throughout the process.
Now that we have looked at how JS can be used for frontend and backend development, let us have a look at its different frameworks:
Frontend JavaScript frameworks
- AngularJS
Angular is an open-source framework developed and maintained by the Angular team at Google. The framework is used by developers to build and run single-page web apps. The framework has an MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture. It makes the process of web development and testing easier.
- ReactJS
A JavaScript library, React is built and managed by Facebook. It helps the dedicated React Js developers build interactive UIs. If you need a simple programming model by abstracting the DOM, this framework is for you. It helps build high-performing apps. In comparison to Angular, React is far more minimalistic in appearance.
- Vue
Vue is a very popular JS framework when it comes to front-end programming. As a progressive framework, it can adapt to the developer’s demands, which is why it is so popular among programmers. Some of the well-known organizations that develop Vue apps are Adobe, Alibaba, Grammarly, Xiaomi, and others.
Backend JavaScript frameworks
- MeteorJS
MeteorJS is user-friendly, thanks to an almost limitless number of packages and libraries. It works well on both desktop computers and mobile phones. It ensures that communication between the server and the client is as smooth as possible. One of the disadvantages of utilizing MeteorJS is that it is strongly reliant on the availability of the network.
- Gatsby
Gatsby is an expandable framework because of its extensive plugin library, including more than 2,000 (approx) different plugins. Gatsby, built on React and GraphQI, is ideally suited for creating relatively static web pages with services connected (via its plugins, of course).
Please keep in mind that Gatsby does not support server-side rendering, which allows websites developed with Gatsby to load very quickly, but it may also be a constraint.
So, this was all about JavaScript and how it works well for both backend and frontend development. If you are planning your next web development project, JS can be the right pick for you!
Bio
Harikrishna Kundariya, a marketer, developer, IoT, ChatBot & Blockchain savvy, designer, co-founder, Director of eSparkBiz Technologies . His 10+ experience enables him to provide digital solutions to new start-ups based on IoT and ChatBot.
