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Basics of Programming with JavaScript

by Kyle Simpson

JavaScript is one of the easiest languages to get started with and one of the most powerful -- it'll challenge you to learn more even years after you start.

What you'll learn

Want to learn to program and use JavaScript as the language of exploration? Great idea! JavaScript is uniquely one of the easiest languages to get started with and one of the most powerful. It will challenge you to learn more even years or decades after you start. Follow along with the course (and learn more about JavaScript) using materials at https://github.com/getify/You-Dont-Know-JS.

Course FAQ

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is one of the most popular and widely used programming languages that lets you create dynamic content. It was developed to work primarily with web browsers to automate things on the client side and manipulate the DOM.

What can I do with JavaScript?

With JavaScript you can implement more complex elements onto web pages, such as interactive content, animated graphics, and responsive forms. JavaScript also enables you to control multimedia, animate images, create dynamic, logic-based scripts, and so much more.

Is JavaScript hard to learn?

If JavaScript is the first programming language you are learning, it might seem a little difficult at first. But compared to many other programming languages, JavaScript is not too hard. Just dive in, pay attention to the course modules, and you'll pick it up fairly easily!

What will I learn in this course?

You will learn the basics of programming with JavaScript, including:

  • operators
  • values and types
  • variables
  • conditional statements
  • for loops and while loops
  • functions
  • scope
Who is this course for?

This course is for anyone who wants to learn JavaScript basics - especially individuals just getting started in JavaScript or in programming in general.

Are there any prerequisites for this course?

Nope! We're starting from the ground up learning JavaScript and programming fundamentals - no prior experience required.

About the author

Kyle is a freelance developer based in Austin, TX. He runs several open-source projects (such as LabJS), writes books, and speaks at meetups and conferences.

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