JavaScript came out of the development of the Netscape 2 browser in 1995. Originally called LiveScript, its name was changed to JavaScript because of the attention the Java programming language was receiving at the time, and because of some superficial similarities in programming syntax. However, Java is not JavaScript: the two are entirely different languages. Java is a fully-fledged programming language with the ability to create stand-alone programs. It has found its niche mostly in server-side solutions and embedded software. JavaScript is not a programming language: it is a scripting service, and cannot create an executable program. In fact, JavaScript will not have little functional use without a web page to run it on. Please do not get Java and JavaScript confused: it is a newbie’s mistake, and a quick way to terminate a job interview.

During the browser wars of the late 90’s, several different flavours of JavaScript were developed. Netscape continued with its version, while Microsoft released an alternative called JScript. Finally, a standard version called ECMAScript was released. Technically, we should be referring to JavaScript as ECMAScript, but there was one more hurdle for the scripting language to overcome before it could be accepted as a robust web development tool: the DOM.