20 Interesting Facts About JavaScript

Amazing facts about this fascinating Language called JS

1. Creation: JavaScript was created in 1995 by Brendan Eich while he was working for Netscape Communications Corporation.
2. Initial Name: Originally, it was named Mocha, then later renamed to LiveScript, and finally JavaScript.
3. Poularity: Netscape Communications put their brand communication expertise into action, when they capitalized on Java's popularity and opted for the name, JavaScript.
4. They still ride the wave: 90% people still think, JavaScript and Java are related
5. Cannot be replaced: 95% of all websites are driven by JavaScript, so much so, the technology cannot be replaced. There are two main reasons: The cost is just too mamooth for business to change their codebase. The other being, the legacy that JS has- 25 years of tested service is no walk in the park.
6. Standardization: JavaScript was standardized under the name ECMAScript in June 1997 by the Ecma International standards organization to ensure its interoperability across different web browsers.
7. Relationship with Java: JavaScript was initially marketed as a companion to Java, but they are independent languages and differ significantly in design.
8. Dynamic Typing: JavaScript is a dynamically typed language, which means you don't need to specify variable data types; they are determined automatically.
9. Prototype-based: Unlike Java, JavaScript uses prototype-based inheritance. Objects can inherit directly from other objects.
10. First-Class Functions: Functions in JavaScript are first-class objects, meaning they can be stored in variables, passed as arguments to other functions, and returned from functions.
11. JSON: JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), a lightweight data-interchange format, was inspired by JavaScript object literal syntax, though it is now used by many programming languages.
12. V8 Engine: Google’s V8 engine, launched in 2008, greatly improved JavaScript's speed, making it a viable option for complex applications.
13. Node.js: In 2009, Ryan Dahl created Node.js, a runtime environment that allows JavaScript to be used for server-side scripting.
14. Major Frameworks: JavaScript frameworks like AngularJS, React, and Vue.js have become essential in modern web development, providing robust structures for building dynamic web applications.
15. Asynchronous Programming: JavaScript supports asynchronous programming through callbacks, promises, and async/await syntax, which are crucial for performance in web applications.
16. Universal Language of the Web: JavaScript is considered the standard scripting language across all modern web browsers.
17. Single-Page Applications (SPAs): JavaScript is the backbone of SPAs, allowing for web apps that load a single HTML page and dynamically update content as needed without refreshing the page.
18. Internet of Things (IoT): JavaScript extends beyond web browsers into IoT, where it's used for developing the backend of applications in devices.
19. Large Community: JavaScript has one of the largest developer communities, and it's consistently ranked among the most popular and in-demand programming languages.
20. Package Management: npm, Node.js’s package ecosystem, is the largest ecosystem of open source libraries in the world.
21. Rich IDE Support: JavaScript development is supported by numerous integrated development environments (IDEs) and tools that provide powerful editing, testing, and debugging features.
22. ECMAScript Updates: ECMAScript, the standard that governs JavaScript, is updated yearly with new features and improvements, reflecting its ongoing evolution and adaptation to developer needs.
23. Widespread Use in Education: JavaScript is frequently taught in coding bootcamps and computer science courses due to its fundamental role in web development and relatively gentle learning curve.