What Is JavaScript JavaScript is a simple, relatively easy to use programming language for Web pages. It gives you a way to add interactivity to your Web pages. With JavaScript you can transform your Web pages from static displays to pages that react to and process information from those who view your pages. JavaScript does not require a lot of programming skill on your part to get started. You can pick up the basics of JavaScript in a short time. History of JavaScript JavaScript was released by Netscape in 1995 under the name LiveScript. Netscape’s purpose for developing LiveScript was to extend the capabilities of static HTML pages and to offload data processing from busy Web servers onto local computers running Web browsers. After JAVA was released by Sun Microsystems and gained recognition, the name LiveScript was changed to JavaScript. Microsoft recognized the importance of JavaScript and entered the arena with two creations, JScript and VBscript. JScript is roughly compatible with JavaScript. VBscript is a subset of Visual Basic.