Why You Should Learn JavaScript If You Want to Be a Software Engineer

Programming languages are the most important tools you have in your toolbox as a software engineer. They can define your role, your expertise, and your career trajectory, and choosing which ones to learn can feel like a big decision.

So why learn JavaScript? Not only is it one of the most (and according to some publications, the most) popular and important programming languages a software engineer should know, its use cases span far beyond the software engineering role. Let’s dive in.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is known as a scripting language. Scripting languages use interpreters to translate commands. It’s primarily used to make websites interactive, but these days it really serves as an all-purpose programming language (more on its versatility below).

JavaScript can be run on both the client side (the front end) as well as the server side (back end) with the introduction of Node.js. When used on the front end, JavaScript runs in the user’s web browser.

Learn More: What is JavaScript?

Reasons to Learn JavaScript for Aspiring Software Engineers

So why is it important to learn JavaScript? Let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits of learning JavaScript.

1. JavaScript Jobs Are in High Demand (and High-Paying)

Most roles in the tech industry are in high demand, but developers or engineers with particular expertise in JavaScript are incredibly popular in the job market. Plenty of career opportunities await those with proficiency in this programming language.

Another contributing factor is that it seems that the demand for professionals with JavaScript expertise far outweighs those available on the job market.

And not only are JavaScript experts in high demand, but they’re also well paid. According to Glassdoor, average pay for a JavaScript engineer is over $120,000. That number can shift accordingly depending on your experience and location, meaning earning potential could be significantly higher in different parts of the country.

Read More: Average JavaScript Programmer Salaries in Top U.S. Cities

2. JavaScript is Versatile

Given that JavaScript is most well-known for its uses in building interactive websites and functioning alongside HTML and CSS, you might think that’s all it’s good for. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. JavaScript is one of the most versatile programming languages, and it can open a world of possibilities.

As mentioned earlier, JavaScript can be used on both the front and back end for web development projects. If you want to work as a front-end developer, JavaScript is absolutely crucial to know. But it can be a useful skill in a number of other career paths as well including app development, full-stack web development, video game development, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and more.

Here are just some of the projects you might use JavaScript for (with the help of some supportive frameworks):

• Interactive websites
• Web applications
• Mobile applications
• Desktop applications
• Big data & cloud development
• Blockchain/Crypto technology
• Automation
• Visual effects/game development
• Machine learning
• Artificial intelligence

3. JavaScript is Great for New Coders

JavaScript is a very beginner-friendly programming language, and it offers a relatively accessible entry point into coding for those with little to no experience. A foundation in JavaScript can help you pick up other object-oriented, functional, and imperative programming languages like Python, Java, or C++.

One of the aspects of this language that makes it so accessible is that it runs in your web browser, and it comes already installed. New coders don’t have to go to the trouble of setting up a development environment from scratch, they can just start practicing with JavaScript from day one.

Another reason it’s great for beginners is that JavaScript has immense community support. There are networks of experienced coders out there who can help you answer questions about bugs or other issues you’re facing in your JavaScript code. Odds are, they’ve been where you are!

4. JavaScript is Easy to Learn & User-Friendly

On a similar note, JavaScript is user-friendly and easy to learn. That doesn’t only make it good for beginners, though. It provides a lot of other benefits as well.

JavaScript is a higher-level programming language, or highly abstracted, meaning there are fewer complexities that you personally have to deal with in your code — the machine side of the process will handle these for you.

The syntax of the language is simple, logical, and straightforward since the majority of it resembles English. It’s also object-oriented, which means that certain lines of code can be reused to repurpose actions of any sort of object.

JavaScript is also easier to test because it uses an interpreter. This allows your code to be tested even before the entire program has been put together, meaning you have a better chance of catching something if it’s not working properly early on, before you’ve gone to all the work of compiling the entire code.

How Do I Start Learning JavaScript?

The best way to start learning JavaScript is simply to start. It’s already in your browser, so it’s ready to go at your fingertips anytime you want to start playing around with it.

If you’d like a little bit more direction, there are a number of resources available online to help you teach yourself JavaScript. You could investigate various online courses, or get involved in the supportive JavaScript community whenever you have questions.

There are also more structured options, like coding bootcamps. These intensive and immersive programs will teach you JavaScript (and other programming languages as well) in a way where you can master these skills and put them to use in the professional world.

Regardless of the educational route you take, it’s important to dedicate yourself to your studies. JavaScript experts are in high demand, and you want to be confident in your skills when you start seeking out those roles.

Learn More: 5 Best Free or Affordable JavaScript Courses

Start Learning JavaScript with App Academy

At App Academy, we know the importance of developing your skills in some of the most popular and highly sought-after programming languages out there today. That’s why we teach JavaScript in all of our immersive coding bootcamps across a variety of formats, so there’s something that works for everyone.

Don’t put off learning this in-demand skill. Get started by exploring our programs today.

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