Javascript and It's History
JavaScript is a high-level, dynamic, and interpreted programming language used to create interactive web pages and to create web applications. It was initially created by Brendan Eich in 1995 while he was working at Netscape Communications Corporation. JavaScript was initially called Mocha, then changed to LiveScript, and finally changed to JavaScript.
JavaScript was initially created as a client-side scripting language to make web pages more interactive. However, over the years, it has grown in popularity and expanded to server-side development, desktop application development, and even mobile application development. It has become one of the most widely used programming languages globally, and its usage is constantly growing.
History of JavaScript:
JavaScript was born out of necessity. When the first web browsers were created, they could only display static HTML pages. The idea of a dynamic web page that could respond to user input had yet to be conceived. In 1995, Netscape Communications Corporation, the creator of the first widely used web browser, saw the potential for a language that could be used to make web pages more interactive.
Brendan Eich, a developer at Netscape Communications Corporation, was tasked with creating this language. The initial version of the language was called Mocha, but it was soon renamed to LiveScript. The name change was done to capitalize on the popularity of Sun Microsystems' Java language, which was widely used at the time.
However, the relationship between JavaScript and Java is only superficial. While the two languages share some syntax, they are fundamentally different. JavaScript is a scripting language that is interpreted at runtime, while Java is a compiled language that runs on a virtual machine.
In 1996, Netscape Communications Corporation submitted LiveScript to ECMA International, an industry standards organization. The organization standardized the language and gave it the name ECMAScript. ECMAScript is the official name of the language, and it is what is used to create JavaScript applications today.
JavaScript gained popularity quickly due to its ability to add interactivity to web pages. In 1996, Microsoft added support for JavaScript in Internet Explorer 3, and the language became even more popular. By the end of the decade, JavaScript was one of the most widely used programming languages in the world.
Over the years, JavaScript has continued to evolve. In 2005, a new version of the language was released, called ECMAScript 3. ECMAScript 3 introduced many new features, including regular expressions, try/catch statements, and support for JSON.
In 2009, ECMAScript 5 was released. ECMAScript 5 introduced many new features, including strict mode, which helped to make the language more secure. Strict mode also made it easier to write optimized code.
In 2015, ECMAScript 6 was released. ECMAScript 6 introduced many new features, including classes, arrow functions, and let and const variables. ECMAScript 6 also introduced Promises, which made it easier to write asynchronous code.
Today, JavaScript is one of the most widely used programming languages in the world. It is used to create web applications, desktop applications, mobile applications, and even server-side applications. Its popularity shows no signs of slowing down, and it is likely that it will continue to be a vital part of the web development industry for years to come.
JavaScript has come a long way since its inception in 1995. From a simple client-side scripting language to a powerful programming language used to create web applications and server-side applications, JavaScript has shown itself to be a versatile and powerful language.