Programming - Language
JavaScript
(JS)
The main programming language used to make web pages interactive, also widely used on servers
What's it for?
Makes websites interactive and can also be used to build the hidden parts of online applications.
For example…
The checkout page uses JavaScript to check the card fields before the form is sent, without reloading the whole page
JS validates a form in the browser and updates the page immediately when a user adds an item to the basket
Think of it like…
The electrics in a shop window: the building can stand without it, but nothing lights up or moves
Often confused with…
- JavaA long-established programming language widely used for large business systems
- JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)A simple text format used to organise and exchange data between systems
- ECMAScriptThe standard that defines the core syntax and behaviour of the JavaScript programming language
- Node.jsSoftware that lets developers use JavaScript to build programs that run outside a web browser
- React (React.js)JavaScript library for building user interfaces from reusable components