JavaScript it is one of the most popular lightweight programming language in the world right now. Its use on the Internet is huge, and it is favored among many web developers. JavaScript has the most active projects on GitHub at the moment and if you are a web developer who wants to strive in the world of the Internet, you better start working on your JavaScript skills.
Here is a list of 10 books about JavaScript programming language that will help you advance your web development expertise.
1. Head First JavaScript Programming: A Brain-Friendly Guide by Eric Freeman, Elizabeth Robson
If you are ready to take a step forward in web programming and move from layout in HTML and CSS to creating full-fledged dynamic pages then it’s time to learn one of the top-rated programming language — JavaScript!
This book about JavaScript will help you learn everything about JavaScript language – from variables to loops. You will be able to comprehend how different browsers react differently to code and how to create universal code that is supported by all browsers. You will see why with JavaScript code you will never have to deal with page congestion and data transfer problems.
Even if you haven’t had any experience with coding before – you don’t have to worry as this book will easily guide you through the entire learning path: starting from the simplest script to completing complex web projects that will run in all modern browsers.
A special attribute of this publication is the distinctive fashion of delivering the material, which makes the “Head First” series stand out among many standard books about programming.
2. Coding with JavaScript for Dummies by Chris Minnick, Eva Holland
Because JavaScript is the key programming language of many contemporary websites, it is important to start learning only from the relevant, correct sources. This book will allow you to quickly and adeptly get the use of CSS, operating with HTML5 and working with online graphics. All chapters on setting up the environment, loops, arrays, jQuery, animation, JSON have an additional test at the end to check how much knowledge you have managed to gain.
3. JavaScript Frameworks for Modern Web Development by Sufyan bin Uzayr, Nicholas Cloud, Tim Ambler
If you are looking to advance your software development skills, this book is perfect for that. It introduces you to both modern and well-established libraries and frameworks, such as Angular, VueJS, React, Grunt, Yeoman, RequireJS, Browserify, Knockout, Kraken, Async.js, Underscore, and Lodash.
By learning with this book, you are guaranteed to obtain detailed analysis of JavaScript code examples, work with tools that regulate dependencies, and structure code in a modular way. Authors also make sure to walk you through automate repetitive build tasks, creating specialized servers, client applications, and disparate data stores.
4. How JavaScript Works? by Douglas Crockford
The author being a recognized specialist in the field of JS goes through the basics and structure of the language in a concise way: names, numbers, logical values, symbols, and others. It is common for beginners to experience difficulties with typing – this JavaScript book can help you avoid them. Here you will find an object-oriented approach, and learn programming without classes or higher-order functions.
5. Learning JavaScript: JavaScript Essentials for Modern Application Development by Ethan Brown
This particular JavaScript book is intended for programmers who have some experience with other languages, but not with JavaScript. This edition will walk you through the rules, conditions, and tools used in ES6, based on a practical ground, as well as explain how to produce effective applications on the client side and in Node.js. Here are some topics that you will be working with during the learning process:
- applying ES6 for transcompilation;
- the methods of using JavaScript functions;
- objects and object-oriented programming;
- iterators, generators, and proxy objects;
- asynchronous programming;
6. JavaScript and jQuery: Interactive Front-End Web Development
This is a rare example of the book is written mostly for programmers, content managers and web designers. The author has the focus on all the necessary basics to start developing simple software. Once you are done with this type of training, you will be able to produce JS scripts and interactive sites, navigate the jQuery library to modify code, convert forms, and verify data.
This JavaScript book will teach you how to make engaging and attractive websites. The overall book layout follows a simple visual way of delivering information with clear examples and small code snippets. More uniquely, it perfectly combines programming theory with examples that illustrate the use of JavaScript scripts and the jQuery library on popular sites. At once, you will start to think and manipulate code like a programmer.
7. Secrets of the JavaScript Ninja by Bear Bibeault, John Resig, and Josip Maras
This book is a revised edition presenting extra information on the following topics: functions, closures, objects, prototypes, and promises. You will get a deeper understanding of: DOM, events and timers, best programming techniques, testing, and cross-browser code.
Main Advantages:
- the latest features of the language are included;
- recommendations on the development practice are offered;
- hardcover;
- comprehensive translation;
- exercises ad tests for locking the learned material.
8. Eloquent JavaScript by Marjin Haverbeke
This one is a great JavaScript book for beginners that can help you immerse in JavaScript environment and start working on a product. Among the founding syntactic items, you will learn about arrow and asynchronous functions, iterators, template strings, and scope. The author’s own experience, many examples, and practical projects compliment the book very nicely. With increasing complexity, you will face more challenging topics such as: control structures, data structures, error handling and asynchronous programming.
9. High Performance JavaScript: Build Faster Web Application Interfaces by Nicholas Zakas
It is a well-known fact that all the dynamics of the site are built on JS. This dynamic has a minor disadvantage to it – it can potentially slow down the loading speed, which is essential for a small response of the resource. The JavaScript book will teach you all about the techniques applied to end downsides that cause performance hiccups. You will learn how to maintain the fast loading process, how to manage the DOM, as well as how to work with the overall page in the right way. Moreover, this book also brings up such concepts as memoization.
10. Functional Programming in JavaScript: How to improve your JavaScript programs using functional techniques by Luis Atencio
Functional programming is a convenient tool to maintain and work with the code that is loosely coupled with various individual components. The author reviews in detail the ways to advance applications, expand and improve performance. You will get a better understanding of many differences between imperative, object-oriented, and functional programming approaches through practical case studies.
Conclusion
All the JavaScript books described above are suitable for both beginners and experienced JavaScript professionals. Hopefully this article about JavaScript will be useful to those looking for an introduction to the interesting world of JavaScript.
In case you are just starting with JavaScript, you should check out the following article about JavaScript Variables, Data Types, Expressions and Object.
