JavaScript is one of the most popular coding languages and it’s considered to be the language to study after mastering HTML and CSS.
JavaScript is used for front-end development. On this side of the development fence, web developers are responsible for creating designs and adding features that allow the website’s visitors to enjoy a better onsite experience.
JavaScript is incredibly fast and its number of users grows by the day. However, as with everything in life, there are some drawbacks that might stand in the way for some people. There are of course alternatives to JavaScript and you can easily make the change if you are passionate about coding.
However, let’s explore both the advantages and disadvantages of JavaScript below.
The advantages of JavaScript
Let’s start with the advantages of JavaScript as they are obviously more numerous than the disadvantages.
It’s fairly easy to use and learn
Java’s syntax is inspired by the one of Java and it’s fairly easy to master once you know the ins and outs of coding languages such as C++. The more languages you add to your knowledge the easier it will be for you to master a new one.
While some recommend that you should stick to one skill and master it, we strongly believe that you should branch your skills out so that you are more sought after by the IT market's big names.
When learning JavaScript, you won’t encounter significant hurdles. Still, the best way to learn is through experts in the field. If you want to learn JavaScript the right way, you can opt for online courses led by professional tutors.
It’s lightning fast
JavaScript is one of the fastest coding languages out there. The main reason for this is that it’s not slowed down by calls to the back-end server. In addition to that, all major browsers support JIT which means that there is no need for JavaScript’s code to be compiled before running it.
And as long as it does not require outside resources, JavaScript is pretty fast, but not as fast as other languages such as Assembly or Lisp.
Popularity and versatility
JavaScript’s community is incredibly huge. You can find various forums where you can ask for help and discuss the functionality of your code or how you can improve as a front-end developer.
This is extremely important for beginners as they will have a source of information that will improve their learning experience. In addition, it’s also extremely versatile. If at some point you get comfortable with the operations of front-end development, you can always explore back-end development with the help of Node.js.
This can be a natural progression for you as you expand your knowledge. Once you master back-end development you can become a full-stack developer.
The disadvantages of JavaScript
Now that we have explored just a handful of JavaScript advantages, let’s take a look at the minor disadvantages.
Security
Since JavaScript’s code is executed on the client side, the bugs and oversights by developers can be exploited for malicious intents. Now, this might be a big problem for big names in the industry and they might even consider avoiding JavaScript entirely.
However, if you are a skilled developer and you keep track of all the IT trends, you will know exactly how to fight against these problems.
Browser support
Some of the available browsers might interpret JavaScript differently, and while this is not a major problem, it might cause some to turn away from JavaScript. This problem is most easily solved by developers via testing the code in all the major browsers.
Bottom line
Learning to code is not an easy task. You will spend a month perfecting your coding language skills and after that, you will have to pay attention to all the new updates and trends in the industry.
But, that does not come without any rewards. The salaries for developers are extremely high and if you are able to become a full-stack developer, you will be all set for a solid future. That said, JavaScript is the perfect place to start with coding languages. Its easy-to-use nature allows you to master it quickly and after you do so, you have a lot more options to explore with the help of Node.Js.