Javascript

/ˈdʒɑːvəˌskrɪpt/ or /ˈdʒævəˌskrɪpt/ proper noun

Definition

A programming language mainly used to make websites interactive and dynamic in web browsers. It can also run on servers and other environments.

Etymology

Created in the mid-1990s by Netscape and originally named “LiveScript.” It was quickly renamed “JavaScript” as a marketing move to ride on the popularity of the separate language Java, even though the two are quite different. The “script” part points to its use in writing small programs that run inside other systems.

Kelly Says

Despite the name, JavaScript is not a simpler version of Java; they’re as different as “ham” and “hamster.” JavaScript started as a quick hack to add a bit of life to web pages and ended up powering huge apps like Gmail and entire server systems. The web you know today exists largely because this language grew way beyond its original plan.

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