Skip to main content

Why learn vanilla JavaScript first?

 

Why learn vanilla JavaScript first?

When deciding whether or not to learn this language, what you’re really asking is whether or not you should learn “vanilla” JavaScript. Vanilla JavaScript just means the basic language without any libraries or frameworks. Let’s explore what this means in more detail now.


What is meant by vanilla JavaScript, libraries, and frameworks?

If you research the term “vanilla JavaScript”, you might run into some confusion; however, all you need to know is that vanilla JavaScript is used to refer to the native, standards-based, non-extended version. There is no difference between vanilla JavaScript and JavaScript—it’s just there to emphasize the usage of plain JavaScript without the use of libraries and frameworks.

So what are libraries and frameworks?

JavaScript libraries and frameworks both contain sets of prewritten, ready-to-use code—but they’re not the same thing. You can think of a framework as your blueprint for building a website: it gives you a structure to work from and contains ready-made components and tools that help you to build certain elements much quicker than if you were to code them from scratch. Some popular JavaScript frameworks include Angular, Ember, and Vue.

Frameworks also contain libraries. Libraries are smaller than frameworks and tend to be used for more specific cases. A JavaScript library contains sets of code that can be called upon to implement certain functions and features. Let’s imagine you want to code a particular element into your website. You could write, say, ten lines of JavaScript from scratch—or you could take the condensed, ready-made version from your chosen library. Some examples of JavaScript libraries include jQuery, Lodash, and Underscore.

The easiest way to understand how frameworks and libraries work together is to imagine you are building a house. The framework provides the foundation and the structure, while the library enables you to add in ready-made components (like furniture) rather than building your own from scratch.

You can learn more about the relationship between languages and libraries in this post explaining the main differences between JavaScript and jQuery. For now, let’s go back to our original question: How important is it to learn vanilla JavaScript?

Should you learn vanilla JavaScript first?

When it comes to learning the language, it can be tempting to skip ahead to those time-saving frameworks and libraries we just talked about—and many developers do. However, there are many compelling arguments for learning plain JavaScript first.

While JavaScript frameworks may help you get the job done quicker, there’s only so far you can go if you don’t understand the core concepts behind these frameworks. Frontend developer Abhishek Nagekar describes how not learning vanilla JavaScript came back to bite him when he started learning the JavaScript frameworks Node and Express:

“As I went to write more and more code in Node and Express, I began to get stuck at even the tiniest problems. Suddenly, I was surrounded with words like callbacks, closures, event loop and prototype. It felt like I got a reintroduction to JavaScript, but this time, it was not a toddler playing in its cradle, it was something of a mysterious monster, challenging me on every other step for not having taken it seriously.”


 

If you want to become a developer who can innovate, not just execute, you need to understand the underlying principles of the web—not just the shortcuts. This means learning vanilla JavaScript before you move on to frameworks. In fact, understanding plain JavaScript will help you later on when it comes to deciding whether to use a framework for a certain project, and if so, which framework to use.

Ultimately, if you want to work as a web developer, it’s inevitable that you’ll encounter this web development language at almost every turn. Learning plain JavaScript first will make you a versatile engineer who can work on both the frontend and the backend, and it’ll equip you to solve complex problems independently—a key skill in the industry.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

If you have any doubts, Please let me know

Popular posts from this blog

Best digital marketing in Perth

Best digital marketing in Perth Introduction Your introduction into the brave new world of the digital space will be custom-tailored to your business needs requirements. You will be introduced to the crew who will be handling your project, from inception to the launch into the market. Assess It will be our job to not only know your customers but how they engage with the core products and  brand relationships . From here we break down what we research, to identify the core elements needed to engage the customer. Create It’s imperative that the design of your vessel is done right from the start. Its shape, level of focus, and attention to detail are crucial for a prosperous, lucrative, and extended journey. We will always present concepts and suggestions as per the requirement, but we truly believe this process should be a collaborative one between the creative crew of the PWD and the client. The final form will dictate its progression into the  development  and manufacturi...
12 comments
Read more

WHAT ARE NEURAL NETWORKS? | Comingfly

WHAT ARE NEURAL NETWORKS ? Neural Networks the process of machine learning are neural networks. These are brain-inspired networks of interconnected layers of algorithms, called neurons, that feed data into each other, and which can be trained to carry out specific tasks by modifying the importance attributed to input data as it passes between the layers. During training of these neural networks, the weights attached to different inputs will continue to be varied until the output from the neural network is very close to what is desired, at which point the network will have 'learned' how to carry out a particular task. A subset of machine learning is deep learning, where neural networks are expanded into sprawling networks with a huge number of layers that are trained using massive amounts of data. It is these deep neural networks that have fueled the current leap forward in the ability of computers to carry out task like speech recognition and computer vision. T he...
6 comments
Read more

The Ultimate Guide to Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising

  The Ultimate Guide to Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising Introduction In the fast-paced digital marketing world, businesses strive to maximize their online presence and reach their target audiences effectively. One of the most potent tools in their arsenal is Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising. This advertising model has revolutionized how companies attract and engage potential customers. This comprehensive guide will delve deep into PPC advertising, exploring its benefits, strategies, and best practices to help you harness its power for your business. What is Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising? PPC advertising is an online marketing model where advertisers pay a fee each time their ad is clicked. Essentially, it's a way of buying visits to your site rather than earning them organically. PPC ads are displayed on search engines, social media platforms, and websites, targeting specific keywords and demographics. The Mechanics of PPC Understanding the mechanics of PPC is crucial for creating...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is Cyber Security | Comingfly

What is Cyber Security The Cyber security or information technology security are the techniques of protecting computers, networks, programs and data from unauthorized access or attacks that are aimed for exploitation. Description:  Major areas covered in cyber security are: 1)  Application Security 2)  Information Security 3)  Disaster recovery 4)  Network Security Application security encompasses measures or counter-measures that are taken during the development life-cycle to protect applications from threats that can come through flaws in the application design, development, deployment, upgrade or maintenance. Some basic techniques used for application security are:  a)  Input parameter validation,  b) User/Role Authentication & Authorization,  c)  Session management, parameter manipulation & exception management, and  d)  Auditing and logging. Information security protects information from unauthori...
1 comment
Read more

body-fitness Important of life | Comingfly

body-fitness Important of life In general, a strong candidate for the "best" title will be any easy-to-learn exercise that targets multiple muscle groups and gives you the practical strength and muscle tone to meet your fitness goals. Exercises that don't require fancy, expensive equipment earn extra credit. Here are seven of the best exercises for athletes and fitness junkies looking for a simple and effective full-body workout.
5 comments
Read more