Advantages and Disadvantages of Javascript

Created by Netscape in 1996, JavaScript has little to do with Java (confusing as the naming is) except for the fact that some of the syntax looks similar. Javascript is a browser-based programming language that runs client-side.

Advantages:

• Enables data validation on the client side resulting in a smoother user experience and less load on the server
• It is supported by most browsers due to its popularity. No extra downloads are required to view JavaScript
• It does not require any special compilers or editors
• JavaScript excels in the creation of dynamic effects (eg: rollover images)
• JavaScript load time is faster than some other front-end technologies (eg: Flash, Java Applets)

Disadvantages:

• Not all browsers support JavaScript consistently and to the same version.
• If JavaScript is not stored separately it makes it difficult for search engine crawlers to find keywords and content in web pages.