JavaScript 101

Variables

• Think of a variable as a named box on a shelf where you can store data
• This name allows you to access the contents of the box later
• Variables are crucial in JavaScript and other programming languages because they enable you to store, change, and use data without difficulty
• Historically, in low-level programming languages like assembly, developers had to manage memory directly by specifying precise storage locations, which was complicated and error-prone
• High-level languages like JavaScript simplify this by letting you use simple names for storing and working with data

To create a variable in JavaScript, you use the let keyword,This keyword declares a variable and creates a named storage space. You then give the variable a name, like firstName, which is like labeling the box to know where to find your data

• To put a value inside the variable, you use the equal sign (=), which assigns the value to the variable
• For instance, let firstName = John; assigns the text “John” to the variable named firstName

Variable Types / Data Types

Variables in JavaScript can hold different types of data, known as variable types or data types

• Strings: Used for text data, . String values are always enclosed in double quotation marks
• Numbers: Used for numerical values, Number values do not need to be enclosed in quotation marks. This helps JavaScript differentiate between text and numbers
• Boolean: Represents a simple true or false value, Booleans are like yes/no answers used for making decisions and tracking conditions, . They do not require any extra symbols like quotes
  • For example, true is a boolean value: isTaskComplete = true;

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Operators

JavaScript also uses operators to perform actions, . Arithmetic operators are tools used to perform operations with numbers. . They are symbols or commands that tell JavaScript to do something, similar to mathematical operators. The basic arithmetic operators covered are:

• Addition (+): Used to add numbers
• Subtraction (-): Used to subtract one number from another, For example, numberOne - numberTwo
• Multiplication (*): Used to multiply numbers
• Division (/): Used to divide one number by another

NOTE

You can store the result of an operation in a new variable For example, let sum = numberOne + numberTwo; would calculate the sum and store it in the sum variable

To see what is happening in your code or display messages, you can use console.log()

Placing a variable inside the parentheses of console.log() will print its value to the console

You can also use console.log() to print multiple items, often including a descriptive label as a string followed by the value, by separating them with a comma inside the parentheses

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This is just the beginning :P