JavaScript is one of the most popular programming languages out there, and it has a lot of practical applications. But most of the time, learning just the basics of JavaScript isn’t enough to get a coding job.
If you have learned the basics of JavaScript, then there are a lot of ways to make use of that skill. How can use you make the best use of your JavaScript skills? What should you do after learning the fundamentals of JavaScript? Let’s answer these questions in this article.
Start With the “Why”
Most people learn things just for the sake of learning things. Yes, it is important to be very good in a programming language. So you should learn all the fundamentals of a programming language thoroughly. But after that, do you really need to know about all the technologies out there in the world? I don’t think so.
Before you decide to learn any technology, ask yourself these questions: Why should I learn this technology? What is its requirement? Where will I use this technology practically?
If you have answers to these questions, then go ahead, and learn that technology. You should learn X so that you can do Y. Find out your Y first, and then figure out what you want to learn to do Y.
For example, if your goal is to become a back-end web developer, then you can learn NodeJS and become good at it.
If you have the time to explore all the technologies, then sure, you can try out various things. What I would suggest is to pick your goal and work backward. That would be the best use of your time.
I have listed some of the applications of various JavaScript frameworks below. You can choose one of them based on your goal and start learning.
Master a JavaScript Framework
JavaScript has a lot of frameworks that would help you build various applications. Let us get familiar with the most popular JavaScript frameworks and their use cases.
| JavaScript Framework | Use Cases |
|---|---|
| Node.js | Node.js is a JavaScript framework that is used for back-end web development or server-side web development. |
| React | React is a JavaScript framework developed by Facebook for doing front-end web development. |
| Vue.js | Vue.js is a JavaScript framework that is used for front-end web development (client-side web development). |
| Angular | Angular is a JavaScript framework developed by Google for doing front-end web development. |
| Electron | Electron is a JavaScript framework that is used for creating cross-platform desktop applications. |
| Tensorflow.js | Tensorflow.js is a JavaScript library that is used for building machine learning models using JavaScript. |
| React Native | React Native is a JavaScript framework that is used for building cross-platform mobile applications. |
These are some of the most popular JavaScript frameworks. There are many others as well. Based on your goal, you can choose one of these frameworks and become really good at it. It’s better to be the master of one specific technology than to become a jack of all trades.
If you already know JavaScript, most probably you know HTML and CSS as well. Make sure you learn HTML and CSS if you want to go into the web development route. The fundaments of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript should be clear before you jump into a JavaScript web development framework. If the basics are clear, you can pick a framework and dive deep into it.
For front-end development, there are different options. React, Angular, Vue.js, etc., are used for front-end web development, and each of them has pros and cons. If you want, you can do some research about all three of them and choose the one that you think is the best option. If you would ask me to pick one front-end framework for you, I would choose React.
If back-end web development is your thing, then you can master Node.js. Also, if you want to become a full-stack web developer, you can learn a front-end framework along with JavaScript. Whatever you choose, learn the technology practically.
Build some web applications using the technology that you have learned. If you build a few web apps with these JavaScript frameworks, you would be good to go. You can then start applying for developer roles in various companies or start freelancing.
If web development is not your thing, then you can choose Electron for building desktop applications or Tensorflow.js for building machine learning models.
JavaScript is becoming popular in mobile app development as well. If you want to get into mobile app development with JavaScript, you can learn the React Native framework. JavaScript is also used for building browser games, and many other applications.
What Else Can You Do With Javascript?
If you know the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, you can definitely build web pages without the need for any frameworks. You can try out building some websites using these fundamentals before you start mastering a framework.
You can also use that knowledge and teach the fundamentals of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to beginners. You don’t need to be an expert in web development to teach coding to beginners. You just need to be one step above them.
Try to find out some beginner students who want to get into web development and take sessions for them. You can find clients either locally or through online platforms like TakeLessons, TeacherOn, and many others.
It is a great way to earn some money at the early stage of your programming career. Also, teaching others will help you to become better at your own coding skills.
You can also start a YouTube channel or a blog and document what you learn. You don’t need to claim to be an expert. You can share whatever you have learned. That would help someone else, and it can be a reference for you in the future as well.
Final Thoughts
JavaScript is a multi-purpose programming language, and it has plenty of use cases. After learning the fundamentals of JavaScript, you can choose one JavaScript path and go further. You don’t need to learn everything. Choose your goal and the JS framework that will help you achieve that goal. Become a master of that framework.
I hope this article was helpful. If I have missed something or if you have anything to add, let me know in the comments down below.
Best wishes to you in your programming journey.
