Setting Up the JavaScript Environment
Before we write any JavaScript code, let’s set up a proper environment for coding and testing. You don’t need any fancy tools to get started — just a browser and a text editor!
Option 1: Quick Start in the Browser
The easiest way to try JavaScript is directly in your web browser!
Steps
- Open your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.)
- Right-click anywhere on a page and choose Inspect or press Ctrl + Shift + I (Windows) or Cmd + Option + I (Mac).
- Click the Console tab.
- Type JavaScript code like:
console.log("Hello, JavaScript!")
And hit Enter — you’ll see the result instantly!
Option 2: Using a Code Editor (Recommended)
For serious coding, use a code editor. The most popular one is:
Steps to set up:
1. Download & Install VS Code
- Go to the VS Code Website and install it for your OS.
2. Create a Project Folder
- Create a folder on your computer (e.g., my-js-project) and open it in VS Code.
3. Create an HTML & JS File
- index.html – your basic HTML file.
- script.js – your JavaScript file.
Example index.html:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>My JS Project</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Hello World</h1>
<script src="script.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Example script.js:
console.log("JavaScript is working!");
4. Open the HTML file in a browser
- Just double-click index.html or use the Live Server extension in VS Code for real-time preview.