make a javascript file

Creating a JavaScript (“JS”) file is a fundamental skill in web development, and it’s simpler than you may think. If you’re brand new to coding, or just new to JavaScript, here’s a beginner-friendly guide to get you started.

Creating Your First JavaScript File

The first step in creating your own JavaScript file is opening your chosen text editor (for example, Notepad, Sublime Text, or Visual Studio Code) and creating a new file in it. The file can be saved anywhere on your computer, but it’s best to keep it organized in a dedicated folder for your project.

Here’s an example of a simple JavaScript file:

console.log('Hello, World!');

To save this as a JS file, go to File > Save As in your text editor, name your file (for example, app.js), and select ‘JavaScript’ from the ‘Save as type’ drop down.

Code Explanation

Let’s break down what this small chunk of code does.

console.log('Hello, World!');: This is a single line of JavaScript code. console.log is a command that tells the system to print or “log” whatever is inside the parentheses to the console, which is commonly used for debugging purposes or to provide simple outputs. The text inside the single quotes, Hello, World!, is a string.

So, when the file is run, it will print Hello, World! to the console.

Note: Each statement in JavaScript is followed by a semi-colon (;), it denotes the end of a command, just like a period in a sentence.

Now that you know how to create a simple JS file and how this code works, you can start experimenting with more complex scripts. A good next step would be to learn about JavaScript variables, data types, and functions. The world of JavaScript awaits!