Introduction to Javascript and how it is helping the Mobile App Industry

Introduction to Javascript and how it is helping the Mobile App Industry

What is Javascript?

JavaScript is a scripting or programming language that allows you to implement complex features on web pages every time a web page does more than just sit there and display static information for you to look at displaying timely content updates, interactive maps, animated 2D/3D graphics, scrolling video jukeboxes, etc.

An even better way of understanding what JavaScript does is to think about certain web features you use every day and likely take for granted like when your Facebook timeline automatically updates on your screen or Google suggests search terms based on a few letters you’ve started typing. In both cases, that’s JavaScript in action.

JavaScript is everywhere, and for the seventh year in a row, it has been ranked the most commonly used programming language, with 67.8% of developers employing it in 2019. Its ascent to the world’s most popular programming language is synonymous with the rise of the internet itself.

Created out of necessity, it is used to build 95.2% (1.52 billion) of websites today, including some of the world’s largest, like Facebook and YouTube. Without it, we would not have popular and useful web apps such as Google Maps and eBay.

History of Javascript

1 dN_nJCkJDuzpH-5h1IGzNA.jpeg The early to mid-1990s was an important time for the internet. Key players like Netscape and Microsoft were in the midst of browser wars, with Netscape’s Navigator and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer going head to head.

In September 1995, a Netscape programmer named Brandan Eich developed a new scripting language in just 10 days. It was originally named Mocha, but quickly became known as LiveScript and, later, JavaScript.

JavaScript vs. Java

image.png Although there is a considerable misconception between the two, JavaScript and Java have almost nothing in common. JavaScript was named after Netscape's support for Java applets in its browser. Many believe it was also a marketing stunt to take attention away from Java, which at the time was the most talked-about language. Java programs must first be compiled into an executable format before they can be run. JavaScript, on the other hand, was designed to be interpreted at runtime, making it far more dynamic.

JavaScript didn’t exactly get off to the best start. It didn’t perform as well, and those developing in Java considered JavaScript more of a “UI glue” to be used mostly by designers and other non-engineers. But the reality is that having a “glue” language allowed the internet to really flourish. Programmers could react better to use events and compose interactive components. And due to that, JavaScript spread like wildfire and very quickly became the lingua franca of the web.

How are Industries using JavaScript?

JavaScript is mainly used for web-based applications and web browsers. But JavaScript is also used beyond the Web in software, servers and embedded hardware controls. Here are some basic things JavaScript is used for:

  • Adding interactive behaviour to web pages.
  • Creating web and mobile apps.
  • Building web servers and developing server applications.
  • Game development.

Most of you heard and seen JavaScript in the Web Development world but now these days JavaScript is making its presence in the Mobile apps world too, not only in android but iOS also and the framework which is responsible for this presence is React Native.

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REACT Native helps you create real and exciting mobile apps with the help of JavaScript only, which is supportable for both android and iOS platforms. Just code once, and the REACT Native apps are available for both iOS and Android platforms which helps to save development time. Found great popularity and also backed by Facebook, REACT Native, which has huge community support today. React Native is built on top of ReactJS which has given a huge competition to the long time favourite, AngularJS. Though there are some similarities and difference between ReactJS and React Native, which is mentioned below:

React Native is a framework that builds a hierarchy of UI components to build the JavaScript code. It has a set of components for both iOS and Android platforms to build a mobile application with a native look and feel. ReactJS, on the other hand, is an open-source JavaScript library to create user interfaces. However, both React Native and ReactJS are developed by Facebook using the same design principles, except designing interfaces.

Since it uses the same code for creating REACT Native iOS or the REACT Native Android apps and web applications, you just need to know the HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Let’s take a look at the importance of the REACT Native Framework here!

Why is REACT Native Framework Important?

  • With React Native Framework, you can render UI for both iOS and Android platforms.

  • It is an open-source framework, which could be compatible with other platforms like Windows or tvOS in the near future.

  • Since React Native components have counterpart rights, you can reuse these components for building both Android and iOS apps.

  • You can either incorporate REACT Native components into the code of the existing app or reuse the Cordova-based code with the help of the plugin as well. However, your existing app must be built with Cordova and Ionic code.

  • React Native Development is comparatively simple, quick and efficient.

  • REACT Native is a great pick for those developers who have expertise in JavaScript as there is no need to learn Android specific Java or iOS’s Swift.

  • React Native is UI focused, which makes the apps load quickly and gives a smoother feel.

Another reason why the REACT Native framework has gained popularity in recent years is that the framework helps cater to both the platforms at one go and ends the holy war of selecting either iOS or Android development for mobile developers. Hence, giant companies like Facebook, Instagram, Skype, Airbnb, Tesla, Walmart, Baidu Mobile, Bloomberg, UberEATS Vogue and many more have shifted their eyeballs towards it.