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About JavaScript Basics

2:15 with Dave McFarland

A quick overview of what I'll teach in this course including JavaScript syntax, programming concepts, vocabulary and techniques, as well as a very important lesson about what JavaScript is NOT.

  • 0:00

    Before we get started programming,

  • 0:02

    I want to talk about what I'll cover in this course.

  • 0:05

    JavaScript is a programming language and

  • 0:07

    like any language, it has its own vocabulary and grammar.

  • 0:11

    Programmers call this syntax.

  • 0:14

    A programming [SOUND] language's syntax is the different commands, special words and

  • 0:19

    punctuation you use to put together a program.

  • 0:22

    Every programming language has its own syntax, just as English, Spanish and

  • 0:27

    Mandarin each have their own vocabulary and grammar.

  • 0:31

    Writing a program is like writing a story using the vocabulary and

  • 0:34

    grammar of the programming language.

  • 0:37

    I'll also teach you programming concepts.

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    These concepts won't just apply to JavaScript.

  • 0:42

    They're common ideas you'll find in many programming languages,

  • 0:46

    things like variables, strings, conditional statements and functions.

  • 0:50

    In other words, I'll teach you basic programming concepts that you can apply to

  • 0:54

    other programming languages like PHP, Ruby, Java or Python.

  • 0:59

    As a programmer, it's also important to be able to talk like a programmer, so

  • 1:03

    I'll introduce important vocabulary that's useful for you to know.

  • 1:07

    These are programming terms that will come up often as you read, talk and

  • 1:10

    learn about JavaScript programing.

  • 1:13

    For example, now you know the word syntax and what it means.

  • 1:17

    If you forgot, it's a programming language's vocabulary and grammar.

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    Lastly, you'll learn important programming techniques.

  • 1:25

    These are best practices or proven ways to put together programs so they work better.

  • 1:30

    For example, you'll learn how to use comments to make your

  • 1:33

    programs easier to understand and use.

  • 1:37

    Of course, you'll also do a lot of programming.

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    In fact, in the next video, you'll dive right in and

  • 1:42

    create your first JavaScript program.

  • 1:44

    But before that, I want to leave you with one important point to remember.

  • 1:48

    [SOUND] JavaScript is not Java.

  • 1:51

    This is something that confuses a lot of people.

  • 1:54

    Despite Java appearing in both names, they're unrelated programming languages.

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    The confusion is all thanks to some nontechnical business and

  • 2:02

    marketing decisions made in the early days of the Web.

  • 2:06

    But don't you make this mistake.

  • 2:08

    Just remember that JavaScript is not Java.

  • 2:11

    Knowing this might save you a lot of embarrassment in a job interview some day.

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