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Quick Start to JavaScript: Volume 1

by Susan Simkins

Throughout this series of JavaScript tutorials we'll learn how to write the programming language from scratch, so you can start creating code of your own. Software required: Mozilla Firefox.

What you'll learn

Throughout this series of JavaScript tutorials for beginners, we'll learn how to write the programming language from scratch, so you can start creating code of your own.

Quick Starts are a series of specially constructed tutorials meant to be followed in sequence and include valuable exercises to reinforce learned concepts.

This tutorial assumes no prior programming experience and starts exploring the logic of a language and the concepts needed to write code from the ground up.

We'll start by exploring what we can create with JavaScript and then learn how to start creating our own code with the basic building blocks of JavaScript using:

  • strings
  • numbers
  • booleans
  • common operators
  • variables
  • and control flow
We'll finish the JavaScript training by putting together all the concepts with the creation of a simple zombie text adventure game. While building a project together, you'll be provided with valuable knowledge, and the real power comes from being able to take the techniques you've learned and apply them in a different way to your own work.

With this in mind, you'll be presented with an assignment immediately following each volume. These assignments will challenge you to take the skills that you've learned in a particular volume and apply them to a different asset.These JavaScript tutorials are designed to be taken in sequence, so we highly encourage you to start with this volume and proceed all the way through to Volume 3, all so you can take advantage of the periodic assignments along the way to get the full learning experience.

Software required: Mozilla Firefox.

Course FAQ

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is an object-oriented programming language used primarily for making interactive elements on web pages and applications. It was initially only used for browsers and web pages, but it has spread to many other environments and applications.

What are the benefits of using JavaScript?

Some advantages of learning to program with JavaScript are:

  • Creating responsive and interactive elements
  • Enhancing the user experience
  • JavaScript is a text-based programming language
  • Client-side JavaScript is very fast
  • JavaScript is relatively simple to learn and execute
  • JavaScript is extremely popular and frequently used
Is JavaScript easy to learn?

In several ways, JavaScript is actually one of the easier programming languages to learn, especially as a first programming language. It will be more difficult for some than others, but this course puts it simply and clearly to help you learn JavaScript easily and effectively.

What will I learn in this course?

In this course you will start your journey through JavaScript by learning:

  • What is JavaScript?
  • The different JavaScript operators
  • Understanding the Console
  • Strings, numbers, and boolean values
  • Using variables
  • If/else and else if statements
  • Much more
Who is this course for?

This course is for anyone who wants to learn some quick JavaScript basics and apply them in a real project. Mostly intended for absolute beginners who are brand new to JavaScript or coding in general.

Are there prerequisites for this course?

Nope! This JavaScript tutorial assumes no prior programming experience, so don't stress about it. We will be learning the absolute basics and fundamentals of JS in this course.

About the author

Susan is a web design tutor for Pluralsight. Growing up, Susan was both a passionate artist as well as a computer tech aficionado. When she discovered the world of web development, she found that she could meld those two passions together into something amazing. Soon after, Susan began devoting herself to building beautiful and functional web content for businesses and nonprofits. It was through those experiences Susan developed a fluency for web coding languages. Since then, Susan has develo... more

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