Introduction

In the previous chapter, you were introduced to some popular JavaScript tools and the various available runtimes for executing code with the modern web browser. We also explored web browser interactions and saw how we can control both the style and content of elements within the web browser with the use of common JavaScript functions in the Integrated Development Environment (IDE).

You have already seen large chunks of JavaScript code; however, understanding what each function works for is a key skill for any good developer. This chapter serves as an introduction to the fundamental concepts and structures involved in writing programs in JavaScript. We'll cover all the basics, from object types to conditionals and looping structures, how to go about writing and invoking functions, and even commenting and debugging their code.

From using variables to store and calculate data to using if/else statements to apply conditions to different variables, this chapter will be one of the most important stepping stones in your JavaScript learning path. A detailed understanding of Booleans, strings, objects, arrays, functions, arguments, and so on will improve your development skills.