Famous applications developed with JavaScript

Even if you're not a software or web developer, you've probably heard of JavaScript, mainly because it's ubiquitous. One of the common uses of JS is to make web pages interactive, but now it can do much more.

Why JavaScript?

Created in 1995, JavaScript is a high-level language that is accessible and easy to use for both experienced and novice programmers. This is one of the reasons behind its huge popularity: it doesn't have a steep learning curve and can be easily implemented into a project.

By employing a graphical interface, people without development experience can understand and program in JavaScript. The language is also browser-independent, meaning it operates across multiple browsers, including Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Mozilla Firefox. It's fast, lightweight, and object-based. And given its massive popularity, JavaScript comes with a huge community, features, and frameworks, including the widely used React.

JavaScript is the primary language for incorporating interactive and engaging elements – simple and complex – into an application or web page. In fact, it is one of the most popular languages ​​for front-end development, used for web design and development, mobile app development, enterprise apps, UX and UI, and much more.

Applications created with JavaScript

There are so many applications that have been made or use JavaScript that it is impossible to list them all here. Therefore, we have gathered just some of the most prominent examples of famous applications in categories such as social media and networking, gaming, entertainment, ridesharing, and learning that make good use of JavaScript.

Social Media and Networks

Facebook incorporates JavaScript into its arsenal of services, and considering all the many interactive features the social media and tech giant offers, this should come as no surprise. But the platform defends the language even more. In 2015, Facebook released the now extremely popular React Native JavaScript framework, which makes the process of building native apps with React easier.

The professional networking app LinkedIn also uses JavaScript. In 2012, when it was already well established, the company launched a revamped application that relied heavily on JavaScript. Although the company used other languages ​​in developing the much-improved application, JavaScript played an important role in creating the user interface that users have come to know and love.

Games

Today, more and more frequently, the programming language is used to create popular games such as Angry Birds, Bejeweled and Polycraft. And these are just some of the many games that JavaScript is responsible for. Thanks to its many tools and libraries, it is limitless in its ability to create fun games.

Entertainment

According to Statista , Netflix was the second most popular video streaming service platform in the United States in 2019, with only YouTube ahead. In 2014, the company sought to redesign its website and app. What is the preferred language for front-end development? JavaScript, of course. The Node.js framework made it possible to coordinate front and backend development and reduce the time and effort spent on building the application.

Netflix relies heavily on JavaScript. He even hosts JavaScript Talks on YouTube where they state that “we share our learnings and developments in the world of JavaScript and front-end engineering with the broader JavaScript community.”

Of course, this isn't the only entertainment platform that uses JavaScript. Streaming service competitor Hulu is just one of many apps that also leverages the language for interactive elements.

Ride sharing

Uber is nothing if not interactive. The ridesharing app has grown significantly since its humble beginnings in 2009. And the magic behind its easy-to-use, interactive interface is JavaScript.

All successful companies update their apps at some point, and Uber is no different. Just like Netflix, it used Node.js to improve the speed, overall functionality, and performance of the application in the next iteration.

Learning Tools

Offering 38 languages ​​and nearly 100 courses, Duolingo is the language learning tool for becoming proficient in Spanish, English, Japanese, Arabic, Latin, Hebrew, and many other languages. Anyone who has used Duolingo to learn languages ​​or take proficiency tests knows how interactive and visually attractive the app is.

With its signature owl that appears to encourage students to keep persisting or hoping for correct answers, Duolingo makes good use of JavaScript, one of its foundational languages, along with Kotlin, HTML, CSS, Swift, and Scala.

According to some, JavaScript is the most important programming language used in development today. The vast majority of websites use the language to deliver interactive and engaging content, and many apps and other products also incorporate it, including many of the world's biggest brands, from Facebook to Netflix to Duolingo. These are just some of the companies that believe in the power of JavaScript.