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Overview
A web application to function requires multiple layers. Of them, client-side scripts are the ones that run on the front-end of the applications. These scripts perform the functions that are required of them and give the result without sending info to background applications or databases without any necessity.
If it’s the back-end that you are interested in, then check out our blog article on server-side scripting languages.
Before dynamic web pages took off, it was an entirely different story of user experience. But now, they have become the norm. These dynamic web pages change the variable content according to user input, with or without any server-side scripting. What are the technologies and scripting languages a front-end developer needs to know? Let’s see.
What happens when we want to use a website or a web application?
The first thing that happens is that the browser loads the site from a server. Then the client-side scripts are run in the same browser without call-backs to the server to process requests. If a process requires access to the database, then an AJAX query requests from the back end.
Click here: Career in web development
A responsive design will ensure that the site is compatible and will adapt to the device of the user. The client-side web application display is a mix of HTML, CSS, and Javascript (usually). Remember that we cannot truly classify a programming language as client-side or server-side. There are instances where Js and HTML are rendered from the server-side and PHP is used for front-end development.
Read more: Beginner’s guide to full-stack web development.
In regular usage, PHP is used for server-side scripting whereas HTML and JS for client-side operations. But, classifications of these languages do help us figure out what are our options and hence we call some languages as server-side scripting languages and some as client-side scripting languages.
What are the front-end development frameworks and tools that a web developer must know? Read the article to know more.
And, if you want to know how to build a web app from scratch and do it all by yourself, then you should become a full stack web developer.
Full stack technologies are many and include databases, front-end and back-end technologies,and many other tools. Take an online course on full stack web development, and learn to create web sites and web apps as a career.
Read More: The 2021 Road Map to Full Stack Web Development.
Full stack development frameworks
How does Client-side scripting affect user experience?
Client-side scripting manipulates HTML of your site to give an interactive user experience. CSS style sheets are used by the scripts to design the style of the web pages.
The functionality of the server-side code, that is, what processes it must execute, depends on the client-side scripting. To fill a form, the front-end takes the input and the back-end runs a script to process only the input.
It is a given that client-side scripting affects user experience, and every technology has a few things worth mentioning and a few points that would make you reconsider using it. Again, whether you go for front-end scripting will depend upon your requirements. Learn scripting with front-end development online course. Get training in classroom oriented instructor led classes for web development.
Advantages of client-side scripting
Immediate response to users
More responsive design and interaction with the user.
It does not need to send requests to the server.
Loading time is faster compared to other models.
It improves usability in browsers.
It allows more control over the behaviour and presentation of the web widget tools.
It is reusable.
Disadvantages of client-side scripting
If the browser doesn’t support scripts, there are chances for error if there are no alternatives.
If scripts are not readily available, it will take up considerable time and resources to write it up.
The web widget tool will be handy but there is a probability that there will be confusion in its use if the widget is similar to standard widget but the functionality is different.
Rigorous quality assurance test is required as various browsers run different versions.
Programming Languages and technologies that are must-learn for client-side scripting
HTML5
Hypertext MarkUp Language, popularly known as HTML is the language that every developer is invariably familiar with. whatever their specialisation, you will be hard-pressed to find a web developer who is not an expert in HTML. The fifth major version, HTML5, is the current version that is in use.
It conforms to WHATWG which is supported by the major vendors. It has APIs for complex web applications and is also a good candidate for cross-platform apps for various low powered devices like mobiles.
Try This: full stack development projects
DHTML
Dynamic HTML is a combination of the markup language HTML with JS, CSS and DOM. It is not by itself a language, but a mixture of the aforementioned technologies. Dynamic styles are a key feature of DHTML and it makes for fast loading. This is because using DHTML, you can format the styles with adding or removing elements.
CSS3
CSS is a cornerstone technology of the World Wide Web. It is a style sheet language. It is used for prescribing presentation of documents written in any client-side scripting language. CSS3 is the most widely used version, though CSS 4 has been released, which are level 4 modules than a single entity.
Read More: Angular Vs React Js which one is best
JavaScript
This is a language that everyone aspiring to be working in the web development domain should master. An easy to learn the language, it was initially meant for client-side scripting only, though it no has applications on the server-side as well. Developed by Netscape, it is best for network-centric web applications.
It is integrated with Java and HTML, which makes working with it easier. The applications built using JS are really fast and it is in fact considered as the most popular web development language ever.
jQuery
It is not a programming language, per se, but is a javascript library, but is an indispensable part of client-side scripting. The claim of the developers is that jquery runs exactly the same across all browsers.
This is this technology’s greatest advantage. Jquery is a javascript toolkit that simplifies writing code and enables rapid web development.
TypeScript
It is a typed superset to javascript. It compiles into the regular javascript compiler. It is purely object-oriented and statically typed like Java. It is developed and maintained by Microsoft. It is a relatively new entrant into the market and is regularly getting updated. It has a strong community.
ActionScript
This is an object-oriented programming language for creating applications in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments. you can use ActionScript to build e-commerce web applications, games, etc.,
It is useful for building any onscreen environment that will respond to the user through mouse or keyboard and every time an event is triggered, an action is taken. it was developed by Macromedia and is now maintained by Adobe.
AJAX
It is the short form of Asynchronous Javascript and XML. On the client-side, we use this combination of web techs to create web applications with asynchronous I/O.
It is used by the web app to send and receive data in the background without affecting the normal function of the application on the front-end. Though still called AJAX, JSON is used these days instead of XML.
VB Script
Visual Basic Script is a lightweight active scripting language modeled on Visual basic. It is developed and maintained by Microsoft for the purpose of developing dynamic web applications. It enjoys popularity and has wide usage in enterprises.
Java
It is a great option for the use of Java applet. If you wish to learn, take an online course on Java. It is one of the most widely used languages for android mobile apps. It is a class-based concurrent OOP language. It is well known for its robust nature.
Until recently, Java was the official development language for Android. It can be integrated with javascript. It is great for developing mobile apps, web apps, desktop apps, games and much more.
