Getting Started with JavaScript
You don't need any fancy tools to start writing JavaScript. A web browser and a text editor are all you need. Here are the two main ways to run JavaScript.
The Browser Console
Every modern browser has a built-in console. Open it with F12 (or right-click → Inspect → Console). Type code directly, hit Enter, and watch it run instantly.
console.log("This runs in the browser!");
console.log(2 + 2);
console.log("Hello" + " " + "World");Node.js — JavaScript on the Server
Node.js lets you run JavaScript outside the browser. Install it from nodejs.org, create a file, and run it from the terminal.
// app.js
const os = require("os");
console.log("Platform:", os.platform());
console.log("Hello from Node.js!");Then run: node app.js
What You'll Need
- A browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge — all work great)
- A code editor (VS Code is the most popular choice)
- Optionally, Node.js for server-side development
That's it. You're ready to code.