# JavaScript overview

**JavaScript,** as a programming language, allows webpages to

* change its content and/or appearance
    
    * based on input from a user or from external forces
        

We will look at the **ES6+** (post-2015) ways of doing JavaScript but occasionally take a brief look at how they do things in **pre-ES6+ ways** if applicable :)

Starting out, JavaScript will seem like it has nothing to do with working on a website but let's look at it this way:

* **data** form the building blocks of a programming language
    
* **operators** work on that data
    
* **branches** decide what data to use
    
* **loops** eliminate repetitive data tasks
    
* **variables** (especially **objects**) store data
    
* **functions** organize all of the above into chunks for later re-use
    
    * ... and **calling** certain functions can lead to ... putting content on a website!
        

More will appear at the \[[JavaScript series page](https://joncoded.hashnode.dev/series/javascript)\]