JavaScript

JavaScript (sometimes abbreviated JS) is a scripting language commonly implemented as part of a web browser in order to create enhanced user interfaces and dynamic websites, but also used in other contexts (such as server-side JavaScript).

This is not the same as Java.

JavaScript was originally developed by Netscape, where it was originally called LiveScript while under development, but became JavaScript (with the name licensed from Sun) in order to capitalize on the popularity of Java, though the languages aren't really related (although there are some similarities in syntax). Later, a Microsoft implementation designed to be (more or less) compatible was called JScript, and an attempt at a formally standardized version of the language was published by ECMA as ECMAScript.

References

• JavaScript (Wikipedia)
• Mozilla JavaScript reference
• JavaScript video lectures by Douglas Crockford
• asm.js: subset of JavaScript to serve as target for compilers
• Using Javascript to Keep Us Safe From Terrorists
• Some incredibly useful JavaScript: Add fart sounds to your web page!
• An examination of asm.js (stripped-down subset of JavaScript designed to run faster)