Learning the JavaScript Language

Gain a conversant understanding of JavaScript, including variables, types, objects, arrays, operators, control structures, loops, and functions.

Introduction

• Become conversant in JavaScript
• What you should know
• Exercise files and Codespaces

1. Getting Started

• Syntax: Learning to read and write
• Versions of JavaScript
• Places to tinker
• Your friend the text editor
• Additional helpful resources

2. Variables and Types

• Declaring and assigning variables
• Strings
• String properties and methods
• Numbers
• Booleans for what is true
• Variable mutability

3. Objects, Arrays, and More

• Objects
• Using objects for data modeling
• Manipulating objects
• Jargon: References
• Arrays
• Manipulating arrays
• Readability: Whitespace
• Readability: Comments
• Regular expressions

4. Operators and Control Structures

• Simple comparisons
• Arithmetic operators
• Logical operators
• Conditionals: If
• Conditionals: Switch
• Terse ifs: One-liners
• Terse ifs: Ternaries
• Type checking

5. Iterating with Loops

• For loops: Sequential
• For loops: Enumerative
• Set and Map: Newer loopable data types
• While loops

6. Functions

• Basic functions
• Arguments and parameters in functions
• More on function arguments
• Objects, references, and functions
• Functions are objects
• Jargon: Scope in JavaScript
• Functions and scope
• Writing shorter functions with arrows
• Three little dots collect the rest
• Callback functions and looping

7. A Few More Advanced Pieces

• Asynchronous code: Waiting is the hardest part
• Promises, async, and await
• Object-oriented JavaScript: Prototypes and classes
• Jargon: Strong vs. loosely typed
• Modern JavaScript tooling

Conclusion

• Continue your JavaScript development journey