Introduction to JavaScript and Why You Should Learn It

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There are many programming languages available today, one of which is JavaScript. For those of you who are just starting to learn programming, you might feel confused due to the many options available, as each programming language has its own advantages. Some of the popular programming languages include Java, C#, C, and C++, which I consider as veteran languages.

There are also languages like Python, PHP, Ruby, and JavaScript, which are often chosen by beginner programmers. However, if you are new to programming, it is highly discouraged to learn multiple programming languages at once. Instead, you should focus on mastering just one language and becoming an expert in it.

This time, I will introduce JavaScript to those of you who are still unsure about which programming language to choose. In my opinion, JavaScript is an amazing language that will make you a modern, millennial programmer. This opinion is not merely based on personal assumptions, but I will also provide solid reasons in a concise manner.

Before transitioning from PHP to JavaScript, I asked myself several questions: Why should I choose JavaScript? What benefits can I gain from learning JavaScript? How important is JavaScript in the field of software engineering? And what does my future look like if I learn JavaScript? After researching various articles, I compiled my findings and will now share them with those of you who are uncertain about choosing a programming language.

I also want to reassure those of you who have decided to learn JavaScript—how cool you are! Choosing JavaScript as your primary programming language is a great decision.

You absolutely should learn JavaScript! Follow this tutorial from start to finish. (Just kidding!) It wouldn’t be fair if I simply told you to learn JavaScript without providing reasons why you need it. So, let me break it down into a few key points.

• JavaScript has been a highly popular language for decades. One strong indicator of this is a survey conducted by Stack Overflow.

Source: https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2019#technology

JavaScript ranked first in the most popular technology category, with 67.8% of 87,354 respondents choosing JavaScript.

• If you are starting a career as a web developer, learning JavaScript is a must. JavaScript enables you to make your website more interactive.
• I really admire a programmer named Flavio Copes, who said that JavaScript is an amazing language! It provides a simple way to manipulate documents and can now run anywhere.
• JavaScript is easy to learn because it has strong community support. There are many tutorials available, though most are in English. That’s why we are providing a tutorial in Indonesian, specifically for those of you who are unsure about choosing a programming language and are not yet fluent in English. Pretty nice of us, right?

A lot!

Seriously, if you learn JavaScript, you gain numerous benefits. You don’t need to learn multiple programming languages to build applications, whether they are web-based or mobile, without requiring a compiler. There’s Node.js for backend development, and the modules provided by NPM make development easier. Additionally, there are libraries like jQuery and React. For front-end development, you have Vue.js, Angular, Meteor.js, and many more.

Let me tell you something. In the past, software development was divided into two separate domains: desktop and web. These two domains were like oil and water—they couldn’t mix. However, growing demands have led to the need for software that can communicate across different platforms.

Thus, the era of division ended with the emergence of REST API technology—a method for data exchange using the JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) format. Once again, JavaScript is involved! However, JSON itself is not JavaScript; it’s just written in a syntax similar to JavaScript objects.

The rise of Node.js for server-side programming has significantly contributed to the rapid growth of JavaScript, as demonstrated by the Stack Overflow survey mentioned earlier.

If you are young and just starting to learn JavaScript, be happy. Your future will be bright. If you consistently study JavaScript for at least 2–3 hours a day, in 10 years, you will become an expert. Once you become an expert, many companies will want to hire you with high salaries. It must be exciting to work in a field you’re passionate about while earning a great income.

The good news is that you can work remotely! No need to struggle with traffic jams or stressful commutes to the office.

Sounds great, right? I love it… I love it…

Once again, becoming an expert takes time and dedication. You need self-discipline in your learning process. Your fundamental knowledge must be strong because if it’s weak, you may struggle in the long run. Don’t worry—this tutorial is designed with detailed explanations and presented in a simple way to help you learn and enjoy JavaScript.

Now, let’s move on to the next article : Preparing the Tools for Learning JavaScript!

That’s the explanation of Introduction to JavaScript and Why You Should Learn It that Mangcoding can share. Hopefully, this article is useful and provides new insights for you. If you have constructive feedback or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment or contact us via email and Mangcoding’s social media.