JavaScript Video Tutorials

JavaScript is one of the world’s most popular programming languages. Developers rely on this language to add interactivity to websites and applications that would otherwise be static.

Watching video tutorials online is a popular method of learning JavaScript. That’s because it’s easy for people to access online videos whenever it makes the most sense for their schedules. Many videos and tutorials are also free or low-cost, making them an accessible introduction to JavaScript, particularly for those who are still considering whether they want to invest in learning the language. This article will cover a range of videos, including what they teach and where to find them.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a programming language that was created in 1995 by Brendan Eich. The language was originally intended to be a straightforward scripting language that could speed up input validation on websites. In recent years, JavaScript has exploded in popularity and is used for much, much more. This programming language is most commonly used for web, application, and browser-based game development. It is a foundational skill for anyone who wants to pursue a career in one of those fields.

In particular, JavaScript helps Developers add interactive components to the website, application, or game they’re working on. Part of what makes this language so popular is that it can be used on any browser. JavaScript is also free to use, making it widely accessible to anyone who wants to learn it. Similarly, the many libraries and frameworks that help make JavaScript so versatile, including React, Node.js, and Express, are also open-source.

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What Can You Do with JavaScript?

Imagine visiting a website but being unable to interact with anything. Nothing moves or changes color when you hover over it, and as you scroll through the page, everything is just a static image or text. Sounds pretty boring, doesn't it?

Now, think about a website you’ve recently visited. It’s likely that as you scrolled through the page, graphics popped into view with a flourish. You may have noticed an image carousel that automatically shifted from photo to photo, or a button that changed color when you hovered over it. When you wanted to navigate to another page on the website, you clicked a hamburger menu that exposed clickable links to these pages.

All of this is made possible with JavaScript, which adds interactive elements to websites that would otherwise be entirely static. While HTML and CSS, two languages fundamental to web design, are static by design, JavaScript makes websites more responsive and engaging to viewers. This helps ensure visitors spend as much time interacting with a website’s various components as possible.

In addition to web development, individuals also use JavaScript to build mobile and web applications. In fact, popular social media sites rely upon JavaScript and its associated frameworks, like React, to build the user interfaces of their applications. Likewise, Developers use JavaScript to build browser-based games (Bejeweled, anyone?), making this language both a highly useful and enjoyable one to learn.

Why Are Video Tutorials Helpful When Learning JavaScript?

You might choose a video tutorial to learn JavaScript for numerous reasons. If you’re the type who likes to watch someone else do something before trying it yourself, video tutorials serve as a great learning medium. When you first start learning JavaScript syntax, you can watch experienced Developers work with the language to see how everything works together. And if you find yourself getting confused or wanting to revisit a topic as you start a project of your own, all you have to do is pause the video and rewind to wherever it is relevant.

Online videos and tutorials also provide insights into using the programming language you might not get through self-directed learning. This includes learning the best approaches to certain programming problems and identifying faster ways to undertake specific tasks. Of course, one of the best parts of using a video tutorial is that many of them are free, making them an accessible option for anyone who doesn’t have the financial resources to commit to a structured course.

Types of JavaScript Videos

The most important thing to remember when choosing a JavaScript tutorial is what you ultimately want to take away from the video. This helps you narrow your search when looking for videos on YouTube or Google and ensures you access the correct information to grow your skills.

You might consider starting with Noble Desktop, which offers a free Intro to JavaScript seminar. This pre-recorded video outlines the basics of programming with JavaScript, including a discussion of popular JavaScript libraries. Individuals who watch this seminar video will also learn a bit about the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, and Node.js).

By the end of the video, students should also understand the difference between client-side and server-side JavaScript. This information provides an excellent introduction to JavaScript and forms a great jumping-off point for future videos.

You might also consider checking out Noble’s web development YouTube playlist. This playlist provides a variety of web development resources that can be relevant for individuals interested in learning JavaScript. This playlist includes tutorials about React, a well-known JavaScript library, and Node.js, a JavaScript run-time environment.

Why Learn JavaScript?

Without JavaScript, websites would be static and boring, and visitors would have difficulty staying engaged with their content. As a result, organizations rely upon individuals with JavaScript skills to add dynamic and interactive components to their websites. Learning JavaScript is thus a prerequisite skill for anyone who wants to pursue a career in web development or application development, including roles like Full Stack Web Developer, Front End Web Developer, and Application Developer.

Another benefit of learning JavaScript is that it can expand your coding skills. If you’re already well-versed in coding with HTML and CSS, JavaScript is a great way to gain experience with an actual programming language (as opposed to a style sheet or markup language). After learning JavaScript, you can apply your knowledge to numerous industries that rely upon these front end programming skills. Learning JavaScript is also the first step in using the language’s numerous libraries and frameworks. Knowing how to use these versatile tools can make you more marketable while searching for jobs since they increase the number of ways you can use JavaScript, including using the language server-side (or back end).

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How Difficult is It to Learn JavaScript?

If you’ve never used a programming language before, you may be intimidated by the idea of learning how to code with JavaScript.Like all programming languages, learning JavaScript requires dedication and focus to learn. That said, anyone who takes the time to gain a foundational understanding of this language can do so. The length of time it will take you to become proficient in JavaScript varies depending on how much time you’re able to spend on learning each week. Still, in general, you should plan to dedicate about six to twelve months to learning this code and its applications.

Before learning JavaScript, you should know how to code with HTML and CSS. Without knowledge of these languages, you will have a difficult time understanding exactly how JavaScript works to manipulate code and add engagement to websites. Additionally, you should have a clear understanding of where you’re planning to apply your JavaScript skills. That’s because you’ll need to learn slightly different tools and skills if you plan to use this language primarily for web development as opposed to application development or game development. Taking the time to get clear on these requirements before you begin your learning journey can help ensure you pick up the necessary skills as efficiently as possible.

Fortunately, JavaScript is open-source, meaning it’s readily accessible from the internet and entirely free to use. All you need to start coding with JavaScript is a text editor or integrated development environment (IDE) that enables you to write code, then apply it to your intended use. Likewise, many of JavaScript’s libraries and frameworks are free, meaning you can readily expand your application of this language to different tasks without incurring additional costs.

Read more about how difficult it is to learn JavaScript.

Learn JavaScript with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers hands-on JavaScript training opportunities that meet the needs of various learning styles and scheduling considerations. Each of its courses features small class sizes so that you can receive individualized support from Noble’s expert instructors. This is the case whether you attend a class live online or in person at the school’s Manhattan campus. Noble Desktop also provides a free retake option for anyone who wants to complete the course again within one year of completion.

Its JavaScript Programming Bootcamp provides students with a foundation in using JavaScript. In particular, this course teaches about object-oriented programming, variables, functions, and data types, among many other topics. By the end of the class, students will know how to build web applications using JavaScript and be familiar with its libraries and frameworks. Before enrolling in this class, you should be comfortable coding with HTML and CSS.

Noble’s JavaScript Development Certificate takes JavaScript learning a bit further. In this course, students practice building web applications with JavaScript and learn how to use React, Node.js, Express.js, and MongoDB to expand the versatility of this programming language. Additionally, students have the chance to apply their learning to specific projects and build up a portfolio that can be used when applying to jobs in the field.

You may also consider Noble’s Front End Web Development Certificate. This course teaches JavaScript in addition to HTML, CSS, and WordPress while providing experiential learning opportunities. Certificates at Noble Desktop also offer students individual career mentoring sessions to help them polish their resumes and portfolios, and give them tips on how to stand out in a competitive job market.