What is JavaScript
JavaScript is a loosely-typed client-side scripting language that executes in the user’s browser. JavaScript interacts with HTML elements (DOM elements) in order to make an interactive web user interface.
JavaScript implements ECMAScript standards, which includes core features based on ECMA-262 specification as well as other features which are not based on ECMAScript standards.
JavaScript Origins
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, JavaScrip
JavaScript History
In early 1995, Brendan Eich from Netscape, took charge of the design and implementation of a new language for non-java programmers to give access to newly added Java support in Netscape navigator.
Eich eventually decided that a loosely-typed scripting language suited the environment and audience, web designers and developers who needed to be able to tie into page elements (such as forms, or frames, or images) without a bytecode compiler or knowledge of object-oriented software design. The dynamic nature of the language led to it being named “LiveScript” but was quickly renamed to “JavaScript” Know more about JavaScript history.
Advantages of JavaScript
⚙JavaScript is easy to learn.
⚙It executes on the client’s browser, so eliminates server-side processing.
⚙It executes on any OS.
⚙JavaScript can be used with any type of web page e.g. PHP, ASP.NET, Perl, etc.
⚙Performance of web page increases due to client-side execution.
⚙JavaScript code can be minified to decrease loading time from the server.
⚙Many JavaScript-based application frameworks are available in the market to create Single page web applications e.g. ExtJS, AngularJS, KnockoutJS, etc.
Examples of scripted behavior
⚙Loading new web page content without reloading the page, via Ajax or a WebSocket. For example, users of social media can send and receive messages without leaving the current page.
⚙Web page animations, such as fading objects in and out, resizing, and moving them.
⚙Playing browser games.
⚙Controlling the playback of streaming media.
⚙Generating pop-ups.
⚙Validating input values of a web form before the data is sent to a web server.
⚙Logging data about the user’s behavior then sending it to a server. The website owner can use this data for analytics, ad tracking, and personalization.
Major frameworks in JavaScript
A structure refers to the set of ready-to-use codes written in JavaScript to build software solutions. It comes with a predetermined application design and toolset. Thus, the development process can be fast-forwarded, which in turn saves time, money, and effort for businesses. Here are a few handpicked JS frameworks which are highly influential and equally popular:
- React — Undoubtedly, it is one of the most preferred JS frameworks for building dynamic user interfaces with advanced features. It is used by major brands like Whatsapp, Airbnb, Facebook, Instagram, etc. React Native is an open-source mobile application framework built by Facebook. It is commonly used for rendering native mobile apps that are real and feature-rich.
- Angular — Angular is another popular JS framework that is best suited for building dynamic single-page applications. It is a desired JS framework for businesses owing to its amazing features which will substantially cut down the coding effort. An example for organizations that use AngularJS is none other than Google, the tech giant.
- Vue — Vue is a sought-after JS framework for front-end development. It is often referred to as a progressive framework, which means it can adapt to the needs of the developer. Adobe, Alibaba, Grammarly, and Xiaomi are some of the significant organizations that make applications based on Vue.
- Node — It is an event-driven framework which is extremely fast in operations. Node works well with applications that require high data processing. Some of the major brands that use Node are LinkedIn, Medium, Uber, and eBay.
- Ember — With its flow of functionality and simplicity, Ember makes app development an easy process. It is well-capable to develop complicated and broad client-side applications.
Use cases of NodeJS:
Node.js is so popular, quite a few major business enterprises are well-acquainted with the software. Companies that use Node.js include the following:
[ LinkedIn, Netflix, Uber, Trello, PayPal, NASA, eBay, Medium, Groupon, Walmart, Mozilla, GoDaddy ]
1:Netflix
Netflix is a streaming service for television and film serving millions of users worldwide and likely one of the most familiar to you of the companies using Node.js.
The user interface (UI) of Netflix was built using Node.js.
According to the Netflix team, the modularity of the framework encouraged them to use Node.js. Netflix is also almost two times faster during startup as a consequence.
Node’s best features: performance, scalability, and development speed. Also, Netflix is not the only one to have rebuilt itself with Node recently. Let me go through the main upsides of Node.js briefly below.
Performance
Node.js uses the so-called event loop and a non-blocking, asynchronous I/O, which allows it to handle tens of thousands of requests per second, with very low latency, in a highly cost-effective manner (which is crucial for Netflix, which can take up to 15% of world’s broadband by itself). It is also run by the V8 engine, which is written in C++ (which is where the speed comes from). You can read more about Node’s performance here.
Scalability
Netflix is running Node.js instances on AWS in Docker containers — the stack that has been synonymous with scalability for a while now. This allows for the horizontal scaling (more,= smaller instances instead of one bigger instance), independent, non-breaking changes to the containerized APIs (one buggy container doesn’t affect the others) and easy version control (which company has 1000s of at the same time). Because of that, as you can guess, Netflix is currently one of the main AWS customers, which has been beneficial to both companies. You can read more about Node’s scalability over here.
Speed of development
Because Node.js is basically JavaScript, it facilitates clear communication in developer teams, which can be more cross-functional using Node.js. Backend and frontend developers can easily understand each other’s code and can even help each other work on tasks. Moreover, because Node.js is so popular and community-driven, every problem you can imagine has most likely already been solved by other developers, and the Internet has all the answers. With great communication and a community willing to help, the speed of development is one of the main selling points of Node.js. And also — no one wants to write Groovy scripts
2:Uber
Uber needs to handle loads of data in real-time. They have millions of requests coming in continuously, and that does not just hit on a page. Uber needs to track driver locations, rider locations, and incoming ride requests. It has to seamlessly sort that data and match riders as fast as possible.
All of that plays to NodeJS’s and JavaScript’s strengths. Node is designed to handle requests and handoff data quickly. Its asynchronous capabilities are a huge part of that. Node is central to Uber’s user-facing stack for just that reason.
Uber is a global transportation company, headquartered in San Francisco, CA. The company is doubling in size every 6 months, operates in 6 continents, 68 countries, 633 cities worldwide. Since its launch in 2012, Uber has become one of the most recognized alternatives to a traditional taxi. Therefore, Uber needs a platform that will keep running no matter what.
Their app connects driver-partners and riders, thus, it has to process an enormous amount of information at a fast-growing scale. Uber chose Node.js to build its massive matching system due to its ability to keep up with the pace of Uber’s huge business needs and enhanced data processing capabilities.
Benefits of Node.js for Uber:
- Quick and reliable processing of extreme amount of data
- Elimination of errors without the need to restart
- Quick deployment of the new code
- Strong open source community that constantly develops new solutions
