JavaScript - History

JavaScript has changed the website, application, and game development world and revolutionized the digital industry. JavaScript is mainly used with HTML and CSS to develop the application interface. However, nowadays, it is also used as a server-side programming language. In the world, according to stackoverflow survey 2023, around 63% of developers are using JavaScript.

History of JavaScript

Let's discuss a brief history of JavaScript.

First stage development of JavaScript

In 1993, Some developers released the web browser Mosaic, with a graphical interface. In 1994, Netscape was founded by the lead developers of the Mosaic web browser. They have also released the browser named Netscape Navigator.

Till 1996, websites were static, containing only HTML and CSS. So, dynamic behavior needed to be added to the web page to make the website more interactive. The scripting language is required to add the dynamic behavior to the web page.

Netscape's lead software developer, Brendan Eich, developed the scripting language in September 1995 within 10 days. 'Mocha' name was given to the newly developed scripting language and renamed later to 'LiveScript' and then 'JavaScript'.

The name JavaScript is given from the 'Java' language. Java was the most popular language in those days, and the script was added due to the scripting language.

Standardization of JavaScript

JavaScript was only supported by the Internet Explorer browser when it was developed. However, the internet explorer browser is deprecated now.

In 1997, to promote JavaScript across all web browsers, Netscape submitted a proposal to the European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA) for standardizing JavaScript.

This is how ECMAScript(ES) came into the world of development. After that, the JavaScript developer's community and Netscape update the JavaScript continuously, adding new features to the JavaScript and releasing the new version, ES1, ES2, …, ES13, etc.

The latest version of JavaScript is ES13.

JavaScript Libraries and Frameworks

After 2005, a revolution came into JavaScript development.

In 2006, one of the most popular libraries, JQuery, was developed to make website development more accessible. However, JavaScript supports thousands of libraries nowadays.

In 2010, frameworks like Ember, Backbone, etc., were introduced. The framework provides the structure of the application. In 2013, one of the most popular frameworks named, React, was introduced.

Server-side JavaScript

In 2009, the NodeJS runtime environment was introduced by Ryan Dhal to create server-side applications. Due to NodeJS, developers can use JavaScript for full-stack web development, and JavaScirpt is not limited to front-end development.

Currently, Google is managing NodeJS.

Modern JavaScript and ES6 Release

In 2015, the ES6 version of JavaScript was released. In the Es6 version, JavaScript developers have significantly changed JavaScript and added more advanced features.

The latest version of JavaScript Es13 was released in 2022.

History table of JavaScript

Future of JavaScript

In the world, 98% of websites use JavaScript as a client-side programming language.

The increasing demand for websites, applications, software, etc., also increases the demand for JavaScript. As time passes, the developer's community develops more libraries and frameworks supported by JavaScript, making it easier to develop the digital product.

There are 14+ million JavaScript developers in the world, and the number is growing. Overall, the future of JavaScript is bright.

JavaScript Browser Support

Most modern browsers support JavaScript.