There is no doubt that JavaScript is the most popular programming language at this moment, and it’s also confirmed by StackOverFlow’s Survey. You can build static websites, web applications, native mobile applications (yes, you can do that too), desktop applications, and even server-side applications in JavaScript.

It also makes you a hundred times more employer as there are tons of web development jobs out there. Because of that, more and more developers are learning JavaScript to become web developers.

If you have been learning JavaScript or web development in general but still, feel like you are not good enough on the subject. Or maybe you are finding it hard to retain all of your learnings or even applying them. This article is for you.

In this guide, we will share some tips which will help you to learn JavaScript fast and become a productive coder. Let’s get started.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a programming language used to make websites interactive. If you think about the basic makeup of a website, you have HTML, which describes and defines the basic content and structure of the website, then you have CSS, which tells the browser how this HTML content should be displayed—determining things like color and font. With just HTML and CSS, you have a website that looks good but doesn’t do much. JavaScript brings the website to life by adding functionality. It’s is responsible for elements that the user can interact with, such as drop-down menus, modal windows, and contact forms. It is also used to create things like animations, video players, and interactive maps.

JavaScript isn’t only used to create websites. It can also be used to build browser-based games and, with the help of certain frameworks, mobile apps for different operating systems. The creation of new libraries and frameworks is also making it possible to build backend programs with the language, such as web apps and server apps.

WHAT IS JAVASCRIPT USED FOR?

Now that we’ve explored the basics of JavaScript, let’s tackle the question: what is the JavaScript programming language used for?

JavaScript is mainly used for web-based applications and web browsers. But JavaScript is also used beyond the Web in software, servers, and embedded hardware controls. Here are some basic things JavaScript is used for:

Make websites behave more individually

javaScript allows users to interact with web pages. There are almost no limits to the things you can do with JavaScript on a web page – these are just a few examples:

• Show or hide more information with the click of a button
• Change the color of a button when the mouse hovers over it
• Slide through a carousel of images on the homepage
• Zooming in or zooming out on an image
• Displaying a timer or count-down on a website
• Playing audio and video on the web page
• Displaying animations
• Using a drop-down hamburger menu

Build web and mobile apps

Developers can use various JavaScript frameworks for developing and building web and mobile apps. JavaScript frameworks are collections of JavaScript code libraries that provide developers with pre-written code to use for routine programming features and tasks—literally a framework to build websites or web applications around. 

Popular JavaScript front-end frameworks include React, React Native, Angular, and Vue. Many companies use Node.js, a JavaScript runtime environment built on Google Chrome’s JavaScript V8 engine. A few famous examples include Paypal, Linked In, Netflix, and Uber!

Game development

JavaScript is used in online games. Many of these games are simple platform games because JavaScript is not as powerful as other languages for building games. You’ll find plenty of online games, like Cookie Clicker, powered by JavaScript on the internet.

There are many limitations to building a browser-based game using JavaScript. But, the language is nonetheless often used by game developers to create simple games. JavaScript by itself does not scale very well if you want to build large games.

IS JAVASCRIPT EASY TO LEARN?

One of the first questions people ask about learning a coding language is how long it takes. While JavaScript is a step up from the most fundamental web development skills (languages like HTML and CSS, which can be learned in under a month), you can still expect to learn JS basics in a matter of months, not years—and that’s whether you learn through online classes or teach yourself through book study.

The amount of time it takes to learn JavaScript has a lot to do with your methodology. Choose between online courses, in-person classes, or books depending on what’s the best fit for your life.

If the timeframe for getting up to speed with JavaScript fundamentals is a manageable matter of months, does that mean it’s easy? Kimbarovsky says that from her perspective JS definitely isn’t the hardest programming language out there, but she also says to keep in mind that everyone faces different barriers to learning.

According to Kimbarovsky, one critical thing to keep in mind when learning JavaScript (regardless of your own learning needs or style) is to resist the temptation to go too fast and speed through the fundamentals. For Kimbarovsky, her own JS learning woes stemmed from moving on to new concepts too quickly and forgetting simpler things she’d already learned. JavaScript is a language that builds on itself, Kimbarovsky says. This makes more involved JavaScript code a lot harder to write and understand if you don’t have a solid handle on the basics.

HOW TO LEARN JAVASCRIPT FAST

 Learning javascript language is a complicated task and might need a lot of practice and experience to make any progress. To learn a programming language fast and well, there are a few steps you can follow. First, you need to know why you want to learn it, and what you are thinking about doing after you learn it.

You can find places to learn specific languages very easily. There are a variety of books you can read that will teach just about any language you can think of. Another option, the internet, is always there for you to use. There are also institutes and certified courses that will teach you what you want to know. Many of the institutes will let you pick bundles of classes that will teach you many different programming languages.

The one important thing you need when you want to learn a programming language is patience. You will have to start with the very basic level programs and you could still be just developing small, simple programs after months of training. Therefore, patience is a key part of learning a language. Every once and a while, you will get irritated or annoyed by programming, but you should make sure you can comprehend the concepts and logic of the problems. If you are having problems getting what you want out of something you are working on, just take a break for a while and work on something else. You could think of the answer at any time.

PRACTICAL TIPS TO LEARN JAVASCRIPT FOR BEGINNERS

1. Start With The Basics

When you are learning JavaScript - or any other programming language - it's very important to pace yourself at the beginning. Although you might find initial concepts quite simple, you need to spend time on the basics so that you have a full understanding of the language you are trying to learn.

2.Use A Good Online Course

There are many methods you could choose if you are trying to learn JavaScript. If you are an experienced programmer who already has an in-depth knowledge of coding basics, learning JavaScript - or any other language - should be a relatively easy process. Simply by watching videos, reading tutorials, and practicing writing increasingly complex programs in your code editor. However, it can be a lot more difficult for a beginner with no coding experience. You could attend a coding boot camp, but this will cost you a lot of money and involves a full-time commitment for at least 3 months (in most cases). Alternatively, you could enroll in a university computer science course. However, this requires an even greater time commitment, and you won't be able to start working as a programmer for at least 3 years if you take this path. Last, but not least, you could use a high-quality online course to guide you. Using an online course has a wide range of benefits over things like boot camps and university courses.

3.Don't Be Afraid To Practice

If you want to become a fluent programmer or web developer, then you need to commit yourself. One of the most important parts of the learning process is practice. If you don't practice writing code, then you will never improve. It could be argued that you are wasting your time working through an online course if you aren't willing to put time into practicing your code outside of your course. As noted above, to be able to improve and learn JavaScript, you need to download your code editor. Once you have a code editor, it is very easy to practice writing and editing code. Head over to GitHub and have a look at some of the open-source code available there. Find a piece of code that looks interesting, download it and open it in your code editor, and work through it until you understand what every line of the code does. Another great way to practice writing JavaScript code is by completing 'coding challenges'. A simple Google search will reveal hundreds of such challenges, which are designed for and aimed at people who are learning and who want JavaScript examples that they can work through. Choose something that is aimed at your skill level, practice, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

4.Understand Every Line Of Your Code

Sometimes when you are learning JavaScript, it can be easy to write code that you don't fully understand. This is especially true when you are trying to master JavaScript-free through online courses which give you comprehensive directions. A lot of people fall into the trap of simply following the directions, writing some code in their code editor, and troubleshooting until it does what it needs to. However, these people don't always understand what they are writing. As a learning programmer, it is extremely important to make sure that you understand every single line of code that you write, what it does, and how it impacts the rest of your program. The difference between the words to master and to learn JavaScript is gigantic. Every time you write a program, you need to sit down for a few minutes and make sure that you know what every little bit of code does. If you are unsure about something or don't understand it, go back over your notes, have a look in a language reference guide (more on this in a minute), or ask someone for help.

THE BEST PLACE TO LEARN JAVASCRIPT FOR BEGINNERS

The Internet is, above all else, a repository of knowledge. Whether you’re interested in self-guided learning or just don’t have the time to enroll in a formal program, flexible online courses might be the educational answer for you. These free and paid online courses show you how to learn JavaScript fast, but do keep in mind that free doesn’t always equate to better. Often, free programs will have less direction and offer less support than their paid alternatives. Be sure to do your research before you take your first class!

freecodecamp.org

This is one of the most awesome community websites which will help you to learn to code for free, build real-world projects and get a job as a developer.

It has a massive collection of interactive tutorials and exercises to learn JavaScript, Data Structure and Algorithms, Frontend Development, and so on.

Founded by Quincy Larson, this is an awesome place to start your coding journey. They even have a big Facebook group (freecodecampearth) where you can ask questions and share your learning experience and their Medium publication freeCodeCamp is the biggest Medium publication for Programming articles.

MDN

MDN or Mozilla Developer Network is more like documentation that developers can read and learn, it’s more of a reading comprehension rather than interactive learning, so basically, most of the developers who use MDN are probably knowledgeable into other languages, and have been programming for a long, several years ago, programming was learned through reading documentation.

W3schools

This website is one of the longest pioneers when it comes to learning Web Development, Programming, and Software Development.

They have a very nice way of teaching here, they will teach you a step by step, in very detailed possible, you can even use this as your reference and cheatsheet.

Conclusion

No matter how you decide to learn JavaScript, it will take time, effort, and dedication. Whether you’re interested in becoming a front-end developer, or are already in the field and just want to add to your professional skillset, there are some education options at your disposal. You may find that furthering your career horizons won’t be as challenging — or costly — as you originally thought it would be.

Sometimes during your journey as a developer, you might have wondered if what you are doing is worth it. This is because it’s taken more time than you think to get things done. It’s completely normal. Don’t give up. Be yourself and learn at your own pace but be consistent.

Always remember, once you understand the basics, jump straight to applying your learnings through projects. Never wait until you accumulate enough knowledge.

Here are a few helpful posts you might want to read, too:

How to learn html for beginners in 2021?- A Guide to Learning Hypertext Markup Language

What is CSS, How Does It Work, and What Is It Used For?

11 skills you need to become a front end developer in 2021

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