The History of JavaScript!
Table of contents
JavaScript is like the magic behind the websites we use every day! It's been around for a while and has a cool story. Let's dive into the simple world of JavaScript's history. π
What is JavaScript? π€
JavaScript is a computer programming language. But it's not the same as Java, even though their names are similar. JavaScript is mostly used in web development to make websites interactive. Imagine all those buttons, animations, and pop-ups on your favorite websites β a lot of them use JavaScript!
Who Developed JavaScript? π§ββοΈ
JavaScript was created by a smart person named Brendan Eich. He made it in 1995
while working at a company called Netscape. Brendan wanted to make web pages more dynamic and fun. So, he whipped up JavaScript in just 10 days! Fast, right?
The Early Days π
At first, JavaScript was a tiny and easy language. It could do simple stuff like showing pop-up messages and switching words on a webpage.
A long time ago, folks mostly used JavaScript in an old web browser called Netscape Navigator
. People thought it was cool, so it began to appear all over the internet. But there was a twist. Various web browsers had their own versions of JavaScript, which made things a bit puzzling.
Standardization and ECMAScript π
To bring order to the JavaScript world, a group called ECMA (European Computer Manufacturers Association)
International stepped in. They created a standard for JavaScript called ECMAScript. This standard made sure that JavaScript worked the same way in all browsers. It's like a rulebook for JavaScript.
The Rise of AJAX and Web 2.0 π
In the early 2000s, JavaScript became even more important. A cool thing called AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML
) allowed web pages to load new data without refreshing. It helped create what we now call Web 2.0 β the interactive web we know today.
JavaScript Frameworks and Libraries π
As time went on, developers started creating JavaScript frameworks and libraries. These are ready-made tools to make coding with JavaScript even easier. Some popular ones you might have heard of are React, Angular, and Vue.js.
JavaScript Everywhere! π
JavaScript isn't just for websites anymore. It's everywhere! You'll find it in mobile apps, server-side applications, and even in the Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It's one of the most widely used programming languages in the world.
The JavaScript Timeline π
Let's take a closer look at the timeline of JavaScript and ECMAScript (ES) development in various browsers:
Year | ECMA | Browser |
1995 | JavaScript was invented by Brendan Eich | |
1996 | Netscape 2 was released with JavaScript 1.0 | |
1997 | JavaScript became an ECMA standard (ECMA-262) | |
1997 | ES1 | ECMAScript 1 was released |
1997 | ES1 | IE 4 was the first browser to support ES1 |
1998 | ES2 | ECMAScript 2 was released |
1998 | Netscape 4 was released with JavaScript 1.3 | |
1999 | ES2 | IE 5 was the first browser to support ES2 |
1999 | ES3 | ECMAScript 3 was released |
2000 | ES3 | IE 5.5 was the first browser to support ES3 |
2000 | Netscape 6 was released with JavaScript 1.5 | |
2000 | Firefox 1 was released with JavaScript 1.5 | |
2008 | ES4 | ECMAScript 4 was abandoned |
2009 | ES5 | ECMAScript 5 was released |
2011 | ES5 | IE 9 was the first browser to support ES5 |
2011 | ES5 | Firefox 4 was released with JavaScript 1.8.5 |
2012 | ES5 | Full support for ES5 in Safari 6 |
2012 | ES5 | Full support for ES5 in IE 10 |
2012 | ES5 | Full support for ES5 in Chrome 23 |
2013 | ES5 | Full support for ES5 in Firefox 21 |
2013 | ES5 | Full support for ES5 in Opera 15 |
2014 | ES5 | Full support for ES5 in all browsers |
2015 | ES6 | ECMAScript 6 was released |
2016 | ES6 | Full support for ES6 in Chrome 51 |
2016 | ES6 | Full support for ES6 in Opera 38 |
2016 | ES6 | Full support for ES6 in Safari 10 |
2017 | ES6 | Full support for ES6 in Firefox 54 |
2017 | ES6 | Full support for ES6 in Edge 15 |
2018 | ES6 | Full support for ES6 in all browsers |
This timeline shows key moments in JavaScript's journey and when different browsers began supporting various versions of the language.
The Future of JavaScript π
JavaScript is still growing and evolving. New features are being added to the language to make it even more powerful and user-friendly. Developers are always finding exciting ways to use JavaScript to build amazing things.
Conclusion π
JavaScript is the hidden hero behind the magic of the internet. It started as a quick project but grew into something incredible. Thanks to JavaScript, the web has become a place where we can play games, shop, and connect with friends. It's a language that's here to stay, making the internet a more fun and interactive place for all of us. πβ¨
Thanks for reading all the way to the end! π
If you have any questions, please use the comments section π¬
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Happy Coding :)β€οΈ
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Written by
Kushal Das
Kushal Das
A Full Stack Web Developer | A Mentor | A freelancerπ» | Data science enthusiastic | Open source enthusiastic | Create and write content | Enjoy learning new techs | love meeting new people! π