What is Java Script?

JavaScript is a lightweight, interpreted programming language. It is designed for creating network-centric applications. It is complimentary to and integrated with Java. JavaScript is very easy to implement because it is integrated with HTML. It is open and cross-platform.

Features of JavaScript

• All popular web browsers support JavaScript as they provide built-in execution environments.
• JavaScript follows the syntax and structure of the C programming language. Thus, it is a structured programming language.
• JavaScript is a weakly typed language, where certain types are implicitly cast (depending on the operation).
• JavaScript is an object-oriented programming language that uses prototypes rather than using classes for inheritance.
• It is a light-weighted and interpreted language.
• It is a case-sensitive language.
• JavaScript is supportable in several operating systems including, Windows, macOS, etc.
• It provides good control to the users over the web browsers.

History of JavaScript

In 1993, Mosaic, the first popular web browser, came into existence. In the year 1994, Netscape was founded by Marc Andreessen. He realized that the web needed to become more dynamic. Thus, a 'glue language' was believed to be provided to HTML to make web designing easy for designers and part-time programmers. Consequently, in 1995, the company recruited Brendan Eich intending to implement and embed Scheme programming language to the browser. But, before Brendan could start, the company merged with Sun Microsystems for adding Java into its Navigator so that it could compete with Microsoft over the web technologies and platforms. Now, two languages were there: Java and the scripting language. Further, Netscape decided to give a similar name to the scripting language as Java's. It led to 'Javascript'. Finally, in May 1995, Marc Andreessen coined the first code of Javascript named 'Mocha'. Later, the marketing team replaced the name with 'LiveScript'. But, due to trademark reasons and certain other reasons, in December 1995, the language was finally renamed to 'JavaScript'. From then, JavaScript came into existence.