What is JavaScript used for?

June 1, 2024 Roberto Magalhães

Unlock the power of JavaScript! Dive into its multifaceted uses, from dynamic web pages to server-side applications. Find out why it's the foundation of modern web development!

JavaScript is one of the most used programming languages in software and web development. StackOverflow 2019 Developer Survey reports that 69.8% of developers use it more often than any other programming language. In 2020, JavaScript continues to be one of the most popular languages among developers and one of the most sought-after skills by companies, as it is used by 95.1% of all websites .

JavaScript is known to be a naturally very fast programming language that speeds up websites and applications. It allows developers to easily perform maintenance and updates and simplifies the debugging process. The fact that it can be used alongside other programming languages makes it a comprehensive choice for front-end web development.

JavaScript software development services use this flexible language for various purposes. Some of the most common uses of JavaScript are:

Web development
Web Applications
Web servers
Mobile Applications
Game development
Presentations and slideshows

Desenvolvedores de JavaScript

Web development

It is used by websites for data validation purposes to ensure users enter the correct information into contact and signup form fields.

JavaScript also supports external applications like Flash, PDFs, and widgets. It is also used to allow users to load content on a website without reloading the entire page.

Web Applications

JavaScript is also commonly used to create web applications without web contexts. Instead of sending messages through servers, JavaScript interacts directly with web browsers, which allows developers to create fast web applications. Take a look at our roundup of the most famous JavaScript applications.

It uses application programming interfaces (APIs) that provide additional functionality for better performance. By requesting only the necessary data, applications can avoid parsing and storing unnecessary fields, which uses resources more efficiently.

Web Servers

When used in combination with the Node JS framework, JavaScript can be used to create web servers. Because Node JS is event-driven, it moves on to the next task quickly without transferring large amounts of data, which makes JavaScript web servers very fast.

Node JS servers use single-threaded processes, which means commands are executed one at a time. The processes are simple and straightforward, meaning there is less room for error.

JavaScript servers make it easier for developers to handle concurrency and identify errors that would otherwise be difficult to detect in multithreaded processes.

Mobile Applications

JavaScript is often used to develop cross-platform mobile applications for iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry. Some of the most commonly used JavaScript frameworks for mobile apps include jQuery Mobile React Native, Apache Cordova, and Titanium.

Most of these frameworks are free and open source, with dedicated support communities that provide detailed documentation.

Game development

JavaScript is increasingly being used to create games like Angry Birds, Polycraft, and Bejewelled. When used with HTML5, JavaScript can create powerful games that require nothing more than a keyboard to play.

The combination opens up a range of different engines, libraries and variations of common web languages that can be used to create complete interactive games.

The Make It Easy JS library , in particular, provides developers with simple solutions for working with rich graphics that are useful for creating games, generative art, and other highly graphical experiences. The library also has 2D image sprites that integrate multiple images into one, which speeds up gameplay by reducing the number of server requests and saving bandwidth.

Presentations and slideshows

The Reveal JS and Bespoke JS JavaScript libraries can be used to create slideshows and interactive website presentations on all modern browsers.

Libraries allow users to add images and interactive elements, such as bulleted lists and syntax highlighting, to slider presentations without any programming experience.

Sliding platforms provide responsive scaling so they can be configured for mobile and tablet devices. They also provide a variety of transition styles, colors, and themes.

Overview

In summary, as an adaptable and widely used programming language, JavaScript can be used in a variety of ways. As a client scripting language, it can provide interactivity to web pages. Since it interacts directly with web browsers, it is suitable for creating web applications.

When used with the Node JS framework, it can be used to build effective web servers and its other frameworks can be used to develop mobile applications. JavaScript can also be used with HTML5 to create games, and the Reveal JS and Bespoke JS frameworks allow developers to create slideshows and presentations.