JavaScript: History, and Evolution
Is JavaScript the same as Java?
No, JavaScript and Java are completely different languages.
JavaScript is primarily a web scripting language, whereas Java is a general-purpose programming language used for enterprise applications, Android development, and more. The only similarity is the name.
History of JavaScript
- 1995 : Brendan Eich at Netscape created JavaScript in just 10 days to add interactivity to web pages.
- Initially Named Mocha, then renamed to LiveScript.
- 1995 (December) : Renamed to JavaScript as part of a marketing deal with Sun Microsystems (creators of Java).
Why is it named JavaScript?
- Java was very popular in the mid-90s.
- Netscape partnered with Sun Microsystems and changed LiveScript to JavaScript to ride on Java's popularity.
- Despite the name, JavaScript has no direct relation to Java.
Evolution of JavaScript
- 1996 : Netscape submitted JavaScript to ECMA (European Computer Manufacturers Association) for standardization.
- 1997 : First version of ECMAScript (ES1) released.
- 2009 (ES5) : Introduced JSON support, strict mode, and improvements.
- 2015 (ES6/ECMAScript 2015) : Major update- let, const, arrow functions, classes, promises, modules.
- 2016-2024 Yearly updates (async/await, optional chaining, BigInt, etc.)