Chapter 1
Jumping into JavaScript
IN THIS CHAPTER
Knowing your JavaScript history
Learning the basics of JavaScript syntax
Setting up your development environment
Writing and running your first program
Using the browser console
“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”
—RALPH WALDO EMERSON
Because it’s built into every web browser, JavaScript is the most widely used programming language today. But what exactly is JavaScript, and how did it get to where it is today?
JavaScript, the Basics
In technical terms, JavaScript is a high-level, just-in-time compiled programming language. This is an important definition, but to understand it and to truly understand what JavaScript is, we need to talk about what it’s not:
- JavaScript is not Java.
- JavaScript is not a scripting language.
To help you understand what this means, I need to provide some definitions and give a brief history lesson.
JavaScript is a programming language
A programming language is a set of rules, ...
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