{"id":161186,"date":"2016-12-05T13:00:37","date_gmt":"2016-12-05T13:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/premium.wpmudev.org\/blog\/?p=161186"},"modified":"2017-05-25T06:06:31","modified_gmt":"2017-05-25T06:06:31","slug":"javascript-libraries-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/javascript-libraries-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"24 Useful JavaScript Libraries and Resources for Developers"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Stack Overflow\u2019s\u00a0Developer Survey Results<\/a> of 2016, JavaScript took home top honors. Not only did it land at the top of the list for full-stack, front-end, and back-end technologies, but 55.4% of people now say they use it over other programming languages.<\/p>\n

JavaScript is an extremely powerful programming tool for any WordPress developer to have in their tool belt. And because JavaScript, like WordPress, powers so much of the web, it\u2019s essential for web developers to be fluent in this programming language.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re beginning your career as a WordPress developer and want to familiarize yourself with JavaScript, or you\u2019re simply looking for a refresher course, save some money and teach yourself \u2013 the web has more than enough tools and resources on the subject of JavaScript to get you where you want to go.<\/p>\n

The first thing you should do is tackle the basics. The 13 resources listed\u00a0here<\/a> will get you moving in the right direction. Then, when you\u2019re ready to advance on and perfect your use of JavaScript, why not enroll in our JavaScript for WordPress Developers course in The Academy. If you’re a WPMU DEV member, you can <\/a>enroll for free<\/a>. And if you’re not a member, you can join The Academy free for 14 days<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Study the JavaScript Libraries<\/h2>\n

If your WordPress website already has animation, scrolling, or any other dynamic features outside of a plain ol’ static web page, then you\u2019re already using JavaScript. But in order to gain a true understanding of this powerful programming language, you\u2019re going to need to take a closer look into the coding. One of the best ways to do this is by studying JavaScript libraries.<\/p>\n

When it comes to working with JavaScript, you\u2019ve probably heard the same terminology referred to over and over again: frameworks, scripts, objects, libraries\u2026 You\u2019ll learn all about these terms in your basic studies of the language. But when you\u2019re ready to move on to the next stage of your development, focus in on the libraries. They\u2019re pre-written codes that anyone can use on their own website, which makes them valuable in terms of time savings as well as for educational purposes.<\/p>\n

As with any other new skill you intend to master, if you want to code well, you\u2019ve got to focus on creating high quality<\/em> code. That\u2019s why libraries are a useful resource. You get a chance to peek under the hood, and see what sort of syntax and other coding best practices lead to high quality results in JavaScript. Then, once you understand why they work the way they do, you can adopt those libraries and eventually adapt them for your own needs.<\/p>\n

There are a multitude of JavaScript libraries, with new ones cropping up each month. That\u2019s because there is a lot of potential within JavaScript, so when there becomes a need to accomplish something new with it, a new library is formed. Now, just because JavaScript libraries are plentiful, that doesn\u2019t mean you need to know every single one.<\/p>\n

The key to using libraries as educational tools is to pick ones that are highly rated (like jQuery and React) as well as those that you could eventually find some use for (like if you need a sliding pop-up). The following list includes a mix of top-rated, must-have JavaScript libraries as well as some you\u2019ll find useful in modern design application.<\/p>\n