Chapter 3: Digging to the Roots of JS

If you’ve read Chapters 1 and 2, and taken the time to digest and percolate, you’re hopefully starting to get JS a little more. If you skipped/skimmed them (especially Chapter 2), I recommend going back to spend some more time with that material.

In Chapter 2, we surveyed syntax, patterns, and behaviors at a high level. In this chapter, our attention shifts to some of the lower-level root characteristics of JS that underpin virtually every line of code we write.

Be aware: this chapter digs much deeper than you’re likely used to thinking about a programming language. My goal is to help you appreciate the core of how JS works, what makes it tick. This chapter should begin to answer some of the “Why?” questions that may be cropping up as you explore JS. However, this material is still not an exhaustive exposition of the language; that’s what the rest of the book series is for! Our goal here is still just to get started, and become more comfortable with, the feel of JS, how it ebbs and flows.

Don’t run so quickly through this material that you get lost in the weeds. As I’ve said a dozen times already, take your time. Even still, you’ll probably finish this chapter with remaining questions. That’s OK, because there’s a whole book series ahead of you to keep exploring!