When it comes to programming languages, there is an embarrassment of riches, which in turn can cause mental gridlock. There’s Python, Java, JavaScript, C/CPP, PHP, Swift, C#, Ruby, Objective-C, and SQL, and that’s not even the full list....

JavaScript supports valuable skills such as object-oriented, functional, and imperative styles of programming. It first appeared in 1995. JavaScript makes web pages more dynamic and user-friendly so that they respond to visitors’ actions.

1. It’s the most popular programming language
2. JavaScript also exists outside of the internet
3. JavaScript is ideal for beginners since it's easy to learn
4. You can create visual effects
5. JavaScript is versatile
6. It's a valuable tool for game designers
7. The career potential is skyrocketing
8. It works in the browser
9. There's a big community
10. There are a lot of shortcuts, when you’re ready to take them.

Once you've mastered it, the possibilities are endless: you can code on the client-side using Angular and on the server-side using Node.js. You can also develop web, mobile, and desktop apps using React, React Native, and Electron, and you can even get involved in machine learning.

If you want to become a frontend developer, JavaScript is a prerequisite. However, that's not the only career path open to you as a JavaScript expert. Mastering this key programming language could see you go on to work in full-stack development, games development, information security software engineering, machine learning, and artificial intelligence—to name just a few!

You should start with plain old vanilla JavaScript first. The best way to start learning JavaScript is to get hands-on.

Happy coding!