Java Script: The double-sided tape of the internet.
What is JavaScript?
JavaScript is a very powerful client-side scripting language. JavaScript is used mainly for enhancing the interaction of a user with the webpage. In other words, you can make your webpage more lively and interactive, with the help of JavaScript. JavaScript is also being used widely in game development and Mobile application development
Why does the web need JavaScript?
JavaScript also is compatible with other languages. This is super important as web servers run on different languages whether it’s PHP, Python, Ruby, Java or. NET. Because the JavaScript running in the browser is 100% decoupled from how HTML web pages are generated, users will always have the same rich experience as JS works, no matter the server-side language used
- Autocomplete
- Loading new content or data onto the page without reloading the page
- Rollover effects and dropdown menus
- Animating page elements such as fading, resizing, or relocating
- Playing audio and video
- Validating input from forms
JavaScript benefits
- Client-side execution of the logic brings faster user experiences. With the code running directly in the browser, the need for server calls is abstracted, hence a cut in loading times. Even with the presence of a server, the fact that JS is asynchronous means that it’s able to communicate with the server in the background without interrupting the user interaction taking place in the frontend.
- Since the very beginning, JavaScript has brought user interface interactivity to the web. It now does the same for applications of all kinds, helping to develop the most engaging UX. Today, frameworks like Vue.js are bringing transitions & animations to the next level.
- JavaScript is behind any good responsive web design. More and more, developers need to adapt their design across multiple browsers and devices. Combining HTML5, CSS3 & JavaScript, they can do so within a single codebase.
- For developers, JS is easy to learn and fast to get into active development. Its syntax is easy and flexible for newcomers. It also simplifies the development of complex applications by enabling developers to simplify the app’s composition. The many frameworks & packages out there also ease the life of developers to some extent.
- If you haven’t got this yet, JavaScript is insanely popular. If popularity doesn’t always equal quality in life in general, it at least means one important thing: you’ll find the solution to any problem within the community. In web development, that’s not a negligible detail. If you’re someone that needs to hire developers, that’s also a big
JavaScript Applications
Single Page Applications(SPAs)
It is sometimes referred to as Single Page Interface (SPI). This is the most common form of JavaScript application available these days. These are a lot more responsive and resemble a desktop application. Unlike other web applications, these load the complete webpage with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript initially. Though the initial loading of the webpage takes time, it works faster with other user requests. The only disadvantage these applications have is that they rely heavily on JavaScript and thus reduce browsing speed in low-power devices. Some examples of SPAs are Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
2. Multi-page Applications
These applications work in a “traditional” way. This means that every change in the web application requests a new page from the server. They are larger than SPAs and take more time than necessary. We have to transfer a lot of data between the server and the browser which reduces the application’s speed. Even though it is much easier these days to do that with the help of AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript), it isn’t very popular. AJAX allows us to refresh only certain sections of the applications without reloading the complete application. But using these applications adds complexity for the programmer and these are difficult to develop as compared to the SPAs.
3. Isomorphic (Universal) Applications
JavaScript applications became ‘Isomorphic’ with the release of NodeJS i.e. they can execute on both client-side and server-side. These applications are very useful when you need faster interaction with the web pages. The same code must be compatible to execute on both the client-side and server-side to render the application components. Unlike SPAs, these applications support older devices and work even with poor internet connections. These applications have a lesser code, but this also makes them difficult to debug.
JavaScript Architecture
1. Typical JavaScript Application Architecture
This JavaScript architecture works fine for simple programs, but in the long run, it fails to meet the demands of complex programs. You can use it for most of the websites where you don’t add special frameworks. This architecture is perfectly fine if you want to interact with the application screen, though you might face some trouble in a large-scale application. Hence, it is crucial that you research this architecture before investment and implementation.
2. Framework-based Typical JavaScript Architecture
As the demand for a complex architecture of JavaScript arose, Framework-Based Architecture came into use. Even though the main focus is still the UI screen, it is much more advanced than the previous version. It involves detailing the simplistic view of the JavaScript Application Architecture. It is very effective for solving complex problems as it implements either MVC or MVVM patterns to the application. Business and presentation concerns are separate, making it easier to work with.
Industry using JavaScript:
Javascript comes under the most important one:
How PayPal uses Javascript:
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The PayPal JavaScript SDK dynamically exposes objects and methods, based on components you are using. These components are configured in the components query string parameter in the URL you have included in the <script>.
For example:
buttons(default)markshosted-fieldsfunding-eligibility
