Setting Up Your JavaScript Development Environment

Before you start writing JavaScript and building web applications, you need to set up a basic development environment. Don’t worry—it’s simple and doesn’t require much to get started!

To begin coding in JavaScript, you only need two things:

1. A web browser to run your code.

2. A code editor to write your JavaScript.

Although advanced projects may require a web server, for learning and basic development, you can run JavaScript directly in a single HTML file—no server setup needed!

Browser

You probably already have a browser installed:

• Windows users have Microsoft Edge

• Mac users have Safari

But for the best experience, you might want to install a modern, developer-friendly browser like:

• Google Chrome

• Mozilla Firefox

• Opera

• Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)

• Safari (Mac)

All modern browsers come with built-in Developer Tools (press F12 or Right Click ? Inspect) that help you debug JavaScript, inspect HTML elements, and monitor errors.

 Editors & IDEs for JavaScript Development

While you can technically write JavaScript in Notepad, it’s much easier to work with an editor that highlights your code, shows suggestions, and catches mistakes.

Here are some popular editors and IDEs you can use:

Recommended for beginners: Try Visual Studio Code—it’s free, fast, and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

 Online JavaScript Editors

Want to try JavaScript right away without installing anything?

Use one of these online editors to write and run your JavaScript code instantly:

• JSFiddle

• JSBin

• PlayCode

• CodeWithSurya
  

Just open the website, type your code, and hit Run—great for testing small snippets or learning on the go!

 Next Step: Where Do You Write JavaScript?

In the next section, you’ll learn exactly where and how to place JavaScript code inside your HTML page, and how the browser reads and runs it.