basics.md

JavaScript Basics

The language is very similar to Java but has a few changes.

1. Data Types and Variables

Example:

var num = 1;
var string = "hi";
var array = {1, "hi"};

To initialize a data type, only "var" is needed as JavaScript would automatically allot the data type to the variable.

Thats awesome!!!!!

2. Conditionals

Ternary conditional example:

var isGoing = true;
var color = isGoing? "Green" : "Red";

Again the to initialize the variable one could put in the conditional in the expression.

3. Functions

Functions are pretty cool in JS. Simple function example:

function add(x, y) {
  // function body
  var sum = x + y;
  return sum; // return statement
}

// 1 and 2 are passed into the function as arguments
var sum = add(1, 2);

1. Shadowing

Shadowing is a cool concept in JS.

So for example, the code:

var x = 1;

function addTwo() {
  x = x + 2;
}

addTwo();
x = x + 1;
console.log(x);

The global "x" value will change and x = 4

However,

var x = 1;

function addTwo() {
  var x = x + 2;
}

addTwo();
x = x + 1;
console.log(x);

The global "x" value will not change and x = 2 The difference comes by adding the "var"

4. Arrays

Arrays in JS have pretty cool functions such as "push", "pop", "Length", "splice", "reverse", "shift" and many more.

Documentation of the methods: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array#Mutator_methods

Finally, this is the core basics of JS. Great help!