How To Use Javascript In Visual Studio Code

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Visual Studio Code (VSCode) is a popular code editor for developers all around the world. It supports numerous programming languages, including JavaScript. In this article, we will show you how to use JavaScript in Visual Studio Code, from creating a new JavaScript file to setting up essential extensions that can improve your coding experience.

Creating a New JavaScript File

To create a new JavaScript file in VSCode, follow these steps:

  1. Open Visual Studio Code.
  2. Click on File > New File (or press Ctrl + N).
  3. Click on File > Save As (or press Ctrl + Shift + S).
  4. Choose a location, and name your file with the .js extension (e.g., script.js).

Writing JavaScript Code in Visual Studio Code

Once you have created a new JavaScript file, you can start writing your JavaScript code. You can write simple inline JavaScript code, use variables, functions, loops, and other constructs.

For example, let’s write a simple JavaScript code that displays an alert box:

alert("Hello, World!");

Running JavaScript Code

To run JavaScript code with Visual Studio Code, you’ll need to use a web browser. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Create an HTML file (e.g., index.html) and save it in the same directory as your JavaScript file.
  2. Add a reference to your JavaScript file inside the HTML file using the <script> tag, like this:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>JavaScript Example</title>
</head>
<body>
    <script src="script.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
  1. Open the HTML file in your web browser; the JavaScript code will run automatically.

Using JavaScript Extensions in Visual Studio Code

VSCode has a vast marketplace of extensions that can help improve your JavaScript coding experience. Some popular extensions include:

  • ESLint – Integrates ESLint into VSCode to provide real-time code linting and formatting.
  • Prettier – Formats your code automatically according to the Prettier style guide, ensuring a consistent code style.
  • Bracket Pair Colorizer – This extension allows matching brackets to be identified with different colors, making it easier to navigate complex code structures.

To install an extension, click on the Extensions icon in the left sidebar, search for the desired extension, and click the Install button.

Conclusion

In this article, we have shown you how to create a new JavaScript file, write JavaScript code, and run it using Visual Studio Code. We also covered some popular extensions that can improve your coding experience. With VSCode’s powerful features and a vast marketplace of extensions, you can enhance your JavaScript development skills and make coding more enjoyable.