The JavaScript programming language is well-suited for learning from scratch. It is not overloaded with technical points, but already contains all the basic components:
- data structures;
- algorithms;
- object-oriented model.
Traditionally, it is recommended to begin your way in programming with Basic and Pascal. These languages will help to understand the basics, but you should understand that you can not monetize or practically apply the acquired knowledge. And JavaScript is a popular and really working technology.
An important advantage of JS is the fact that it has syntactic similarities with Java, C++, C# and PHP. These programming languages are also actively used in their respective niches, so the novice web developer will be useful to get acquainted with them.
What is limited to JavaScript
In its pure form, that is, without special add-ons JS language can only function within the browser. Even so, there are security restrictions. For example, JavaScript can only close the tab it has created. In general this programming language is made for browsers and the internet and should not be used outside of them.
Are there any competitors
There is no technology in the web development industry today which can push JavaScript from its leadership position. It’s just so handy and successful that there’s no point in creating something new. With the classic JS can only compete with some add-ons. These include TypeScript, Dart, and CoffeeScript. They often have more convenient and simpler code, but it is still transformed into pure JavaScript before execution.
The main advantage of JS can be considered its stable relevance. The language appeared more than 20 years ago, but it continues to evolve. This is definitely not a technology that will be obsolete in a few years, after you have spent time learning it.
What’s worth mastering before JavaScript
The JS language can be learned without any foundation, but there are directions to help along the way. A very good help will be mastering HTML and CSS. In general, activities in the field of web development is better to start with the creation of static pages, which in the process can be brought to life using JavaScript. Learning HTML and CSS will help you get a basic knowledge of the principles of websites and data transfer.
Where you can go from here
After a thorough study of JavaScript, you can improve your skills in almost any direction. It is recommended to master frameworks and libraries, which will allow you to use effective sets of functional classes. The list of the most common technologies in this group includes jQuery, Angular and React. It is also worth paying attention to the add-ons TypeScript, Dart and CoffeeScript. Depending on the chosen technology, they will help to make the program code more compact, stricter or cleaner.