JavaScript is a popular programming language that powers the interactivity and dynamic features of websites. Whether you're a web developer or just starting your coding journey, learning JavaScript is a great way to enhance your skills. In this beginner's guide, we will walk you through step-by-step instructions on how to get started. By the end of this article, you'll have a basic understanding of what javascript is and how it's run. Let's dive in!
What is JavaScript?
JavaScript, often abbreviated as JS is a scripting or programming language that allows developers to implement complex features on web pages. It was initially created to bring interactivity to web pages and provide enhanced user experiences but javascript has become a versatile language used in a variety of contexts beyond web development, including server-side scripting and mobile app development.
Now that you understand what javascript is, let's look at how to run a javascript code!
How to Run JavaScript Code?
Running JavaScript code is relatively straightforward, and there are a few different ways to do it.
Using the Console Tab of a Web Browser
Using Node.js
By Creating Web Pages
Using the Console Tab of a Web Browser
The console tab in web browsers provides an interactive environment to run JavaScript code. Follow these steps to run JavaScript in your browser:
i. Open your preferred web browser (e.g., Google Chrome).
ii. Access the developer tools by right-clicking on an empty area of the webpage and selecting "Inspect" or by using the shortcut key F12.
iii. In the developer tools, navigate to the "Console" tab. Here, you can write JavaScript code and press Enter to run it. You'll see the output displayed directly in the console.
Using Node.js
Node.js is a runtime environment for executing JavaScript code on the server side. To run JavaScript using Node.js, follow these steps:
i. Install the latest version of Node.js from the official website (nodejs.org).
ii. Set up an integrated development environment (IDE) or a text editor like Visual Studio Code.
iii. Create a new file in the IDE and save it with a .js extension (e.g., index.js).
iv. Open the terminal or command prompt, navigate to the file location, and type node index.js to execute the JavaScript code. The terminal will display the output generated by your code.
By Creating Web Pages
JavaScript and HTML go hand in hand when creating interactive web pages. To run JavaScript from a web page, follow these steps:
i. Open your preferred text editor or IDE (e.g., Visual Studio Code).
ii. Create a new HTML file and save it with a .html extension (e.g., index.html).
iii. Set up the basic HTML structure by either typing it out or using the HTML boilerplate template. Use the shortcut (shift + ! + enter ), If you can't copy mine or type html boilerplate on Google and copy it to your file or copy mine.
iv. Create a new JavaScript file and save it with a .js extension (e.g., main.js).
Just test it by writing basic code like console.log("Hello webpage") in the main.js file
v. Inside the HTML file, link the JavaScript file by adding a script tag in the body section (<script src="main.js"></script>).
vi. To view the webpage with the JavaScript code in action, use a live server extension in your text editor (e.g., Live Server in Visual Studio Code). Right-click on the HTML file and select "Open with Live Server" to launch the webpage in your browser. If you don't have live server installed. You can search for it in the extension.
vii. To check if your JavaScript code is running successfully, right-click on the webpage, select "Inspect," and go to the "Console" tab. Any output or error messages will be displayed here.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You've taken your first steps into the world of JavaScript. In this article, we explored the fundamentals of JavaScript, learned how to run JavaScript code using various methods, and created a basic web page with JavaScript functionality. With this foundation, you're ready to delve deeper into the exciting world of JavaScript development. Keep practicing, exploring, and building, and you'll soon become proficient in JavaScript. Happy coding!