30 Days Of JavaScript

Twitter Follow Author: Asabeneh Yetayeh
January, 2020
[Day 2 >>](https://github.com/Asabeneh/30DaysOfJavaScript/blob/master/02_Day/02_day_data_types.md) ![Thirty Days Of JavaScript](./images/day_1_1.png) - [📔Day 1](#%f0%9f%93%94day-1) - [Introduction](#introduction) - [Requirements](#requirements) - [Setup](#setup) - [Install Node.js](#install-nodejs) - [Browser](#browser) - [Installing Google Chrome](#installing-google-chrome) - [Opening Google Chrome Console](#opening-google-chrome-console) - [Writing Code on Browser Console](#writing-code-on-browser-console) - [Console.log](#consolelog) - [Console.log with Multiple Arguments](#consolelog-with-multiple-arguments) - [Comment](#comment) - [Syntax](#syntax) - [Arithmetics](#arithmetics) - [Code Editor](#code-editor) - [Installing Visual Studio Code](#installing-visual-studio-code) - [How to Use Visual Studio Code](#how-to-use-visual-studio-code) - [Adding JavaScript to a Web Page](#adding-javascript-to-a-web-page) - [Inline Script](#inline-script) - [Internal Script](#internal-script) - [External Script](#external-script) - [Multiple External Scripts](#multiple-external-scripts) - [Introduction to Data Types](#introduction-to-data-types) - [Number](#number) - [String](#string) - [Booleans](#booleans) - [Undefined](#undefined) - [Null](#null) - [Checking Data Types](#checking-data-types) - [Comments Again](#comments-again) - [Variables](#variables) - [💻 Day 1: Exercises](#%f0%9f%92%bb-day-1-exercises) # 📔Day 1 ## Introduction **Congratulations** for deciding to participate in 30 days of JavaScript programming challenge. In this challenge you will learn everything you need to be a JavaScript programmer, and in general, the whole concept of programming. In the end of the challenge you will get a 30DaysOfJavaScript programming challenge certificate. Join the [telegram group](https://t.me/ThirtyDaysOfJavaScript). **A 30DaysOfJavaScript** challenge is a guide for both beginners and advanced JavaScript developers. Welcome to JavaScript. I enjoy using and teaching JavaScript and I hope you will do so too. JavaScript is the language of the web browser. In this step by step tutorial, you will learn JavaScript, the most popular programming language in the history of mankind. You use JavaScript **_to add interactivity to websites, to develop mobile apps, desktop applications, games_** and nowadays JavaScript can be used for **_machine learning_** and **_AI_**. **_JavaScript (JS)_** has increased in popularity in recent years and has been the leading programming language for four consecutive years and is the most used programming language on Github. ## Requirements No prior knowledge of programming is required to follow this challenge. You need only: 1. Motivation 2. Computer 3. Internet 4. Browser 5. Code Editor ## Setup I believe you have the motivation and a strong desire to be a developer, computer and Internet. If you have those, then you have everything. ### Install Node.js You may not need it right now but you may need it for later. Install [node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/). ![Node download](images/download_node.png) After downloading double click and install ![Install node](images/install_node.png) We can check if node is installed on our local machine by opening our device terminal or command prompt. ```sh asabeneh $ node -v v12.14.0 ``` When making this tutorial I was using node version 12.14.0, but now the recommended version of node.js for download is 12.17.0. ### Browser There are many browsers out there. However, I strongly recommend Google Chrome. #### Installing Google Chrome Install [google chrome](https://www.google.com/chrome/) if you do not have one yet. We can write small JavaScript code on the browser console, but we do not use the browser console to develop applications. ![Google Chrome](images/google_chrome.png) #### Opening Google Chrome Console You can open Google Chrome console either by clicking three dots at the top right corner of the browser, selecting _More tools -> Developer tools_ or using a keyboard shortcut. I prefer using shortcuts. ![Opening chrome](images/opening_developer_tool.png) To open the Chrome console using a keyboard shortcut. ```sh Mac Command+Option+J Windows/Linux: Ctl+Shift+J ``` ![Opening console](images/opening_chrome_console_shortcut.png) After you open the Google Chrome console, try to explore the marked buttons. We will spend most of the time on the Console part. The Console is the place where your JavaScript code goes. The Google Console V8 engine changes your JavaScript code to machine code. Let us write a JavaScript code on the Google Chrome console: ![write code on console](./images/js_code_on_chrome_console.png) #### Writing Code on Browser Console We can write any JavaScript code on the Google console or any browser console. However, for this challenge, we only focus on Google Chrome console. Open the console using: ```sh Mac Command+Option+I Windows: Ctl+Shift+I ``` ##### Console.log To write our first JavaScript code, we used a built-in function **console.log()**. We passed an argument as input data, and the function displays the output. We passed 'Hello, World' as input data or argument in the console.log() function. ```js console.log('Hello, World!') ``` ##### Console.log with Multiple Arguments The console.log(param1, param2, param3), can take multiple arguments. ![console log multiple arguments](./images/console_log_multipl_arguments.png) ```js console.log('Hello', 'World', '!') console.log('HAPPY', 'NEW', 'YEAR', 2020) console.log('Welcome', 'to', 30, 'Days', 'Of', 'JavaScript') ``` As you can see from the snippet code above, *console.log()* can take multiple arguments. Congratulations! You wrote your first JavaScript code using *console.log()*. ##### Comment We add comments to our code. Comments are very important to make code more readable and to leave remarks in our code. JavaScript does not execute the comment part of our code. Any text line starting with // in JavaScript is a comment or anything enclosed like this /* */ is a comment. **Example: Single Line Comment** // This is the first comment // This is the second comment // I am a single line comment **Example: Multiline Comment** /* This is a multiline comment Multiline comments can take multiple lines JavaScript is the language of the web */ ##### Syntax JavaScript is a programming language. As a result, it has its syntax like other programming languages. If we do not write a syntax that JavaScript understands, it will raise different types of errors. We will explore different kinds of JavaScript errors later. For now, let us see syntax errors. ![Error](images/raising_syntax_error.png) I made a deliberate mistake. As a result, the console raises a syntax error. Actually, the syntax is very informative. It informs what type of mistake we made. By reading the error feedback guideline, we can correct the syntax and fix the problem. The process of identifying and removing errors from a program is called debugging. Let us fix the errors: ```js console.log("Hello, World!") console.log('Hello, World!') ``` So far, we saw how to display text using a *console.log()*. If we are printing text or string using *console.log()*, the text has to be under the single quote, double quote, or a backtick quote. **Example:** ```js console.log("Hello, World!") console.log('Hello, World!') console.log(`Hello, World!`) ``` #### Arithmetics Now, let us practice more writing JavaScript codes using *console.log()* on google chrome console for number data types. In addition to the text, we can also do mathematical calculations using JavaScript. Let us do the following simple calculations. ![Arithmetic](images/arithmetic.png) ```js console.log(2 + 3) // Addition console.log(3 - 2) // Subtraction console.log(2 * 3) // Multiplication console.log(3 / 2) // Division console.log(3 % 2) // Modulus - finding remainder console.log(3 ** 2) // Exponentiation ``` ### Code Editor We can write our codes on the browser console, but it won't do for bigger projects. In a real working environment, developers use different code editors to write their codes. In this 30 days python JavaScript challenge, we will use Visual Studio Code. #### Installing Visual Studio Code VVisual studio code is a very popular open-source text editor. I would recommend to [download Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/), but if you are in favor of other editors, feel free to follow with what you have. ![Vscode](images/vscode.png) If you installed Visual Studio Code, let us start using it. #### How to Use Visual Studio Code Open the Visual Studio Code by double-clicking its icon. When you open it, you will get this kind of interface. Try to interact with the labeled icons. ![Vscode ui](./images/vscode_ui.png) ![Vscode add project](./images/adding_project_to_vscode.png) ![Vscode open project](./images/opening_project_on_vscode.png) ![script file](images/scripts_on_vscode.png) ![Installing Live Server](images/vsc_live_server.png) ![running script](./images/running_script.png) ![coding running](./images/launched_on_new_tab.png) ## Adding JavaScript to a Web Page JavaScript can be added to a web page in three different ways: - **_Inline script_** - **_Internal script_** - **_External script_** - **_Multiple External scripts_** The following sections show different ways of adding JavaScript code to your web page. ### Inline Script Create a folder on your desktop and call it 30DaysOfJS or in any location and create an **_index.html_** file in the project folder. Then paste the following code and open it in a browser, for example [Chrome](https://www.google.com/chrome/). ```html 30DaysOfScript:Inline Script ``` Now, you wrote your first inline script. We can create a pop up alert message using the built-in *alert()* function. ### Internal Script The internal script can be written in the _head_ or the _body_, but it is preferred to put it on the body of the HTML document. First, let us write on the head part of the page. ```html 30DaysOfScript:Internal Script ``` This is how we write an internal script most of the time. Writing the JavaScript code in the body section is the most preferred option. Open the browser console to see the output from the console.log() ```html 30DaysOfScript:Internal Script ``` Open the browser console to see the output from the console.log() ![js code from vscode](./images/js_code_vscode.png) ### External Script Similar to the internal script, the external script link can be on the header or body, but it is preferred to put it in the body. First, we should create an external JavaScript file with .js extension. All files ending with .js extension are JavaScript files. Create a file introduction.js inside your project directory and write the following code and link this .js file at the bottom of the body. ```js console.log('Welcome to 30DaysOfJavaScript') ``` External scripts in the _head_: ```html 30DaysOfJavaScript:External script ``` External scripts in the _body_: ```html 30DaysOfJavaScript:External script //it could be in the header or in the body // Here is the recommended place to put the external script ``` Open the browser console to see the output from the console.log() ### Multiple External Scripts We can link multiple external JavaScript files to a web page. Create a helloworld.js file inside the 30DaysOfJS folder and write the following code. ```js console.log('Hello, World!') ``` ```html Multiple External Scripts ``` *Your main.js file should be below all other scripts*. It is very important to remember this. ![Multiple Script](./images/multiple_script.png) ## Introduction to Data types In JavaScript and also other programming languages, there are different kinds of data types. The following are JavaScript primitive data types:_String, Number, Boolean, undefined, Null_, and _Symbol_. ### Number - Integer: Integer (negative, zero and positive) numbers Example: ... -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3 ... - Float: Decimal number Example ... -3.5, -2.25, -1.0, 0.0, 1.1, 2.2, 3.5 ... ### String A collection of one or more characters under a single quote, double quote, or backtick quote. **Example:** ```js 'Asabeneh' 'Finland' 'JavaScript is a beautiful programming language' "I love teaching" 'I hope you are enjoying the first day' `We can also create a string using a backtick` ``` ### Booleans A boolean value is either True or False. Any comparisons return a boolean value, which is either true or false. A boolean data type is either a True or False value. **Example:** ```js true // if the light on ,the value is true false // if the light off, the value is False ``` ### Undefined In JavaScript, if we don't assign a value to a variable, the value is undefined. In addition to that, if a function is not returning anything, it returns undefined. ```js let firstName; console.log(firstName); //not defined, because it is not assigned to a value yet ``` ### Null Null in JavaScript means an empty value. ```js let emptyValue = null ``` ## Checking Data Types To check the data type of a certain variable, we use the **typeof** operator. See the following example. ```js console.log(typeof 'Asabeneh') // string console.log(typeof 5) // number console.log(typeof true ) // boolean console.log(typeof null) // object type console.log(typeof undefined) // undefined ``` ## Comments Again Reminding, that commenting in JavaScript is similar to other programming languages. Comments are important in making your make code more readable. There are two ways of commenting: - _Single line commenting_ - _Multiline commenting_ ```js // commenting the code itself with a single comment // let firstName = 'Asabeneh'; single line comment // let lastName = 'Yetayeh'; single line comment ``` Multiline commenting: ```js /* let location = 'Helsinki'; let age = 100; let isMarried = true; This is a Multiple line comment */ ``` ## Variables Variables are _containers_ of data. Variables used to _store_ data in a memory location. When a variable is declared, a memory location is reserved. When a variable is assigned to a value (data), the memory space will be filled with that data. To declare a variable, we use _var_, _let_, or _const_ keywords. We will talk more about var, let, and const in detail in other sections (scope). For now, the above explanation is enough. For a variable that changes at a different time, we use _let_. If the data does not change at all, we use _const_. For example, PI, country name, gravity do no change, and we can use *const*. - A JavaScript variable name should not begin with a number. - A JavaScript variable name does not allow special characters except dollar sign and underscore. - A JavaScript variable name follows a camelCase convention. - A JavaScript variable name should not have space between words. The following are valid examples of JavaScript variables. Valid variables in JavaScript: ```js firstName lastName country city capitalCity age isMarried first_name last_name is_marreid capital_city num1 num_1 _num_1 $num1 year2020 year_2020 ``` camelCase or the first way of declaring is conventional in JavaScript. In this material, we will use camelCase variables. Invalid variables: ```sh first-name 1_num num_#_1 ``` Let us declare variables with different data types. To declare a variable, we need to use let or const keyword before the variable name. Following the variable name, we write an equal sign (assignment operator), and a value. ```js # Syntax let nameOfVariable = value ``` **Examples: Variables** ```js // Declaring different variables of different data types let firstName = 'Asabeneh' // first name of a person let lastName = 'Yetayeh' // last name of a person let country = 'Finland' // country let city = 'Helsinki' // capital city let age = 100 // age in years let isMarried = true console.log(firstName, lastName, country, city, age, isMarried) ``` ```sh Asabeneh Yetayeh Finland Helsinki 100 True ``` ```js // Declaring variables with number values let age = 100 // age in years const gravity = 9.81 // earth gravity in m/s2 const boilingPoint = 100 // water boiling point, temperature in oC const PI = 3.14 // geometrical constant console.log(gravity, boilingPoint, PI) ``` ```sh 9.81 100 3.14 ``` ```js // Variables can also be declaring in one line separated by comma let name = 'Asabeneh', // name of a person job = 'teacher', live = 'Finland'; console.log(name, job, live); ``` ```sh Asabeneh teacher Finland ``` When you run the files on 01-Day folder you should get this: ![Day one](./images/day_1.png) 🌕 You are amazing! You have just completed day 1 challenge and you are on your way to greatness. Now do some exercises for your brain and for your muscle. # 💻 Day 1: Exercises 1. Write a single line comment which says, _comments can make code readable_ 2. Write another single comment which says, *welcome to 30DaysOfJavaScript* 3. Write a multiline comment which says, _comments can make code readable, easy to use_ _and informative_ 4. Create a variable.js file and declare variables and assign string, boolean, undefined and null data types 5. Create datatypes.js file and use the JavaScript ***typeof*** operator to check different data types. Check the data type of each variable 6. Declare four variables without assigning values 7. Declare four variables with assigning values 8. Declare variables to store your first name, last name, marital status, country and age in multiple lines 9. Declare variables to store your first name, last name, marital status, country and age in a single line 10. Declare two variables _myAge_ and _yourAge_ and assign them initial values and log to the browser console. ```sh I am 25 years old. You are 30 years old. ``` 🎉 CONGRATULATIONS ! 🎉 [Day 2 >>](https://github.com/Asabeneh/30DaysOfJavaScript/blob/master/02_Day/02_day_data_types.md)