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Top 27 JavaScript Books for Web Developers 2019

JavaScript was once a language that developers would learn about if they needed to create a fancy animation, or other interactive features for their HTML websites. Back in the day, HTML and CSS were the clear winners of the game. Perhaps a little PHP thrown in on the side, JavaScript was just another exclusive language that required internet users to enable JavaScript in their browsers in order to view any features created through this language. Nowadays, JavaScript is the leading language of the web. If you are building a new platform, a website, or a personal project, you better be building it with JavaScript. There aren’t any other languages out there with as much support and availability as JavaScript.

Francois Ward recently wrote an extended piece on the current state of JavaScript, what tools are dominating different parts of web development, and what features are still to be used when developing back-end and front-end parts of a platform. It has attracted tens of comments, and hundreds of likes from the overall hacker communities, with plenty of insight to give you a solid timeline of current JavaScript progress. In other news, the actual founder of JavaScript — Brendan Eich — is giving his praise to WebAssembly; an in-development global web project that will focus on web performance for both desktop and mobile devices. This further reassures the JavaScript community that the future of the web is nearing soon, and could very well be the new Web as we know it. Then again, not everyone loves JavaScript so much!

More on JavaScript Books

The reasons to learn JavaScript, and especially the new ES6 standard have never been higher than they are now; JavaScript helps the web, but it also helps software engineers. And who can forget about Node.js? It is the most revolutionary web framework in modern times. We are admirers of JavaScript, and constantly push the boundaries of the types of content that our readers might seek in regards to JS. Our best pieces includes: templating engines for JavaScript devs who wish to template their websites faster, a collection of 23 most popular JS frameworks you can get your hands on today, a roundup of the latest JavaScript developer tutorials that come from industry experts, and if you are totally new to JS — a look at the best online resources for learning JavaScript online.

If online learning isn’t for you, you can always try reading some intellectual books, such as the ones in here. This is going to be a countdown of twenty-seven most popular, most educational, most prominent, most intellectual JavaScript books that you can get your fingers on. We will split the post in two parts; first, you get the free stuff, and then we move on to paid books. Any JavaScript developer who feels like we left out his favorite JS book, give us a shout in the comments and we will take care of it.

JavaScript Enlightenment

JavaScript Enlightenment

Cody Lindley is a well-respected front-end developer, who has given back to the front-end community immensely, through talks, tutorials, and books. Many of his books have found their way into the average programmer’s bookshelf. This is thanks to their friendly tone of writing, and intensely packed knowledge within a single book. JavaScript Enlightenment has a specific focus; the goal of the book is to help any JavaScript developer or designer to learn how to program JavaScript without having to constantly rely on third-party libraries. It doesn’t even matter which ones; the book’s content is aimed at those who wish to progress further with JavaScript, and become independent developers, hence the name JavaScript Enlightenment.

Far too often, we see developers put together books where they reinforce themselves as experts, and use that context throughout the book, only to give you a narrow idea of the topic, and with majority of the focus on the writer’s personal experience. Whereas, Cody talks to everyone individually and really focuses on helping everyone to become better JS developers. At the end of the day, learning to program by yourself can be a daunting feat to achieve. Yet with the help of this amazing book, you will no longer need to feel like there are any gaps left unfulfilled.

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JS – The Right Way

JS - The Right Way

Books are usually divided into several chapters. Each one will talk about a specific programming related issue, whether it’s objects or functions, several large chapters can be dedicated to each of these language capabilities, JavaScript: The Right Way is not a book that one can just read from a beginning to start. Rather, it is a collection book, a list of resources to help new JS devs to find the best tools, resources and articles on what the majority of JavaScript developers employ in their daily workflows. The categories are divided as such: style guides, design patterns, tools for testing, popular JS frameworks, engines for building games, where to find latest news, essential JS reading, podcasts, screencasts, JS developers to follow and more.

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Learning JavaScript Design Patterns

Learning JavaScript Design Patterns

Each programming languages gives its users a specific set of functions and probabilities that will be unique to that programming language. However, some things in programming are inevitably intertwined, and design patterns are one of them. A design pattern is a solution to a problem that may reappear throughout the process of designing software.

Design patterns are one of the most talk-about topics in programming. This is mostly because design patterns specifically help us take someone else’s code and work on top of it with quality in mind. The same way, design patterns help us better understand how a solution to a certain problem is implemented, which is far more simple than having to explain every detail of our code. This book explores both traditional and modern patterns of design with JavaScript. Anyone who wishes to write concise, organized, and beautiful easy-to-navigate code is going to love this book. It is aimed at developers who have professional experience, but will complement those who aren’t experienced with additional resources to explore on tougher material.

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Node – Up and Running

Node - Up and Running

Node.js remains as the leading JavaScript framework/library of the century. So many frameworks and libraries are built for Node on a daily basis; it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up! As more web developers continue to make the switch for Node.js development, the requirements for detailed information on how to best use Node.js are starting to become very evident, as programmer communities start to get overwhelmed with technical questions, and sea of ideas that could turn into new and game changing apps.

Node: Up and Running is a book that helps somewhat experience JavaScript developers to begin learning the essential concepts of this language, with emphasis on all aspects of modern development, rather than just the API that Node is so popular for. By the time you are done with this book, you will know more than just about Node as a web development platform, but also what are the most prominent modules and packages available today for building performance-optimized websites, platforms, and services.

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Programming JavaScript Applications

Programming JavaScript Applications

Couple of years ago, developers were still trying to figure out JavaScript and its real agenda, whereas today we see JavaScript becoming the very standard for modern application development. Go ask anyone, what language to use to build my new website or app; JavaScript will be the answer. The book here strictly focuses on design patterns that give clues and insight on how to build robust, scalable and performant JS applications from wherever you are.

Needless to say, JavaScript can get a little tricky once you start working with front-end and back-end, because even the slightest change of codebase could mean a disaster for your app, but not if you use the information provided in this book to become more skilful in tougher situations. This book will teach you how to analyze large JavaScript apps, how to build web apps that you will be able to scale for desktop use, the best practices for code optimization, how to layer and structure your apps, how to use Node.js to build robust APIs, the importance of JS testing and how to do it, and so many more compelling topics.

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Exploring ES6

Exploring ES6

Didn’t you know? ES6, JavaScript Harmony has already been released, and new JS apps are being built using the ES6 standard. Get yourself up to speed of this new development in the language with Exploring ES6 from Axel Rauschmayer. This could easily be the only book you will ever need on the subject, the book consists of 29 unique chapters that explore everything there is to explore about ES6 and JS in general. The expectation from the author is that you’d already have some prior experience with JS before diving into this book, because it will solely focus on ES6 and its features, and many of them you will not understand unless you know JS already. You will have a difficult time finding a more concise introduction to ES6, but also a specification on how, what, and why the new standard works.

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jQuery Enlightenment

jQuery Enlightenment

Cody Lindley is appearing in our JavaScript books list for the second time, this time Cody wants to teach us on how to achieve enlightenment in jQuery. The most popular JavaScript library ever built. With jQuery, we make our webpages and apps interactive, add dynamic functions and calls, and create one-of-a-kind experiences that will inspire our visitors and customers, as well as fellow developers. jQuery Enlightenment has been produced to help jQuery developers strengthen their advanced, and intermediate knowledge about the library. The book requires prior experience with JS, but doesn’t require any prior jQuery knowledge, while still managing to bring you from a level of novice, to an advanced and seasoned developer who will be proficient in jQuery; all comes down to your ability to work with the book and actually practice what it preaches. Have fun becoming an enlightened master in jQuery!

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Recipes with Angular.js

Recipes with Angular

Angular.js is a Google developed web development framework for building rich web applications through a rich structure programming environment that leads to increased development output. The book from Frederik Dietz focuses on concepts, insights and tips on how to make the most of Angular when looking to do rapid application development. In its current form, the book chapters are as follows: introduction, controllers, directives, filters, APIs, routing, forms, UI patterns, back-end integrations with Node and Ruby — everything that you will encounter throughout the process of creating your own Angular application. There’s no shortage of tutorials for Angular, but sometimes it is good to just have a single book at your disposal that can act as a reference point.

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Eloquent JavaScript

Eloquent JavaScript

Eloquent JavaScript isn’t just a book about programming, just like programming isn’t just a way of making the web a dynamic experience. Programming has everything to do with computers, without no computers, there would be no programming, and the author believes that the best starting point for any programming language is to actually learn how this language works with the computer, and how big of a role an actual computer plays in the programming experience itself. It’s a unique approach that has fortunately given this book the exposure that it deserves, being one of the most technical, and one of the most rich books on the subject that is still available for free, with the help of supporters from variety of open-source communities, and individuals who believe in teaching the whole spectrum of something, rather than sticking to the good parts only.

The goal of the book is to give you enough space to learn how a programming language talks to the computer, and what the computer does to talk back to you. Anyone new to programming might find the book irritable at times, but it is only because the book focuses on programming at large, to really engrain the deeper aspects of coding into your brain, so you don’t have to relearn all of that ten years down your career. Truly a unique book for any JavaScript developer, or programming enthusiast.

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Single page apps in depth

Single page apps in depth

Single page apps, and also websites are increasingly growing in popularity. Having a whole application/website within a single page can be really appealing towards business ideology, but more than that it helps to eliminate the need for the customer to constantly jump back and forth between different parts of an application, and instead use it in its purest, native form. If you wish to go from zero to a single-page app within a day or two, then Mikito Takada’s book is your savior.

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Building Front-End Web Apps with Plain JavaScript

Building Front-End Web Apps with Plain JavaScript

JavaScript libraries are of course a huge topic, many of the entry-level JS devs these days rely on JS libraries to help them build stuff that they want to build, a library exists for pretty much anything, and stitching together a couple of libraries to build a modern business platform is much more easy than having to build everything by yourself, using native JS code. However, does this come at a cost? The cost of having to depend on external libraries, and also having to learn their syntax and the style of code they use? Yes, that is definitely a downfall, which is why the “Building Front-End Web Apps with Plain JavaScript” book/tutorial exists.

It’s a concise introduction to JavaScript and front-end app development without using any external libraries, or frameworks. The approach taken in the tutorial is ‘learn as you go’. That means you get to focus on building stuff, instead of constantly reading about it. The tutorial/book provides enough information to help you understand each part of the application you are building. Though, it emphasizes that you put in thorough work to actually make steady progress.

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Human JavaScript

Human JavaScript

Henrik Joreteg has written a book on Human JavaScript — explaining how humans themselves are in charge of the code they write, and that the computer is only the interpreter. We should write code that other humans can easily understand, and build upon. If you have been planning to learn about HTML5 and how to build native HTML5 apps, then you will want to read this book straight away. It is one of the best introductions to the topic. And when you’re done, you will be proficient to create your own native apps.

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Learn Webpack and React

Learn Webpack and React

Both Webpack and React are two exlusively popular JavaScript libraries that have changed the landscape of modern development and app design. Apps now get delivered more rapidly, with more robust capabilities, increased performance, and general availability for major devices. SurviveJS wants to teach you a couple of things about both frameworks, how to use webpack to setup a development environment, how to increase your code quality using popular linting tools, how to become a proficient React.js developer (and how to style your apps like a pro), and how to create a stunning drag&drop interface for your apps using React. The reviews couldn’t be more positive.

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Learning JavaScript, 3rd Edition

Learning JavaScript, 3rd Edition

JavaScript continues to push the boundaries of what is possible on the web, and there couldn’t be a more appropriate time to begin learning the language. With the new ES6 standard now available, deploying applications of modern quality has become increasingly more pleasant, and this book aims to give both beginners and experts a simple rundown of ES6, with additional info on latest JavaScript tooling. Ethan Brown, the author of the book, maintains a solid equilibrium throughout the book, covering both simple and complex concepts within the language.

The contents of the book are exciting: a concise guide on using ES6 in today’s dev environment, work with data formats that can be converted for JS use, the basic overview of JavaScript functions, deep dive into Objects and Object-Oriented JavaScript programming, learn about new concepts like generators, proxies, and iterators, learn more about asynchronous development, learn about ES6 and the DOM for apps built for the browser, and a slight dive into Node.js essentials if you’re looking to build server-side apps.

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Building Isomorphic JavaScript Apps

Building Isomorphic JavaScript Apps

Isomorphic, once an alien word, is becoming the most popular technique for doing web app development. Isomorphic means that the written JS code is going to be run on both the client-side (browser), and server-side (web server), such structure of the app allows to yield benefits for search engine optimization, to increase load times (performance), to have access and full-control over the app’s UI. The book is in three parts: first you will learn about the identities of Isomorphic apps, and how to begin the development process, then you go from learning the details to beginning the development of your very own Isomorphic JS app, and the third part focuses on bringing and aligning your development workflow with Isomorphic patterns.

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Building Web Apps with Ember.js

Building Web Apps with Ember.js

Ember.js uses model-view-controller (MVC) architectural pattern to allow front-end developers to build one-page and browser-optimized applications that seamlessly connect back to the back-end. Ember.js might not be the name you hear all the time, but the community is alive and very much kicking it. The book is a great introduction and a seasoned guide on how to begin app development using the Ember framework. Throughout the book you will learn: how to begin your Ember workflow and create a boilerplate, inspect the ins and outs of Ember and how it helps you save time by coding less, use the provided app prototype to learn more about Handlebars; JS styling library, immerse yourself in Routers to manage your apps without live browser interaction, use Controllers and Views to synchronize your data using data-binding, how to use Ember APIs, how to build scripts and widgets to extend your apps natively.

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React.js Essentials

React.js Essentials

The idea that you could build a web app with a UI that’s both easy to maintain and performs seamlessly was not something that many have talked about, not until React.js paved a path for itself. React is one of the most popular libraries we have seen JavaScript devs adopt so quickly. Facebook is the author of the library, and happily uses React on the biggest social media platform on the planet. Learning React allows for developers to stay ahead of the curve of up and coming changes in web development.

React.js Essentials will take you on a fast-paced journey through building your own maintainable React.js application. Begin by exploring how you can create single and multiple user interface elements. Create stateless and stateful components and make them reactive. Learn to interact between your components and lifecycle methods. Gauge how to effectively integrate your user interface components with other JavaScript libraries. Delve deep into the core elements of the Flux architecture and learn how to manage your application using stores. Finish by going that extra mile with the Jest test framework. Run multiple tests on your application and find solutions to scale it further without complexity.

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Developing Backbone.js Applications

Developing Backbone.js Applications

Front-end developers know how handy Backbone can be when the tasks requires you to build a single-page app. This is the best framework to use for that purpose. Addy Osmani is a reputable Google developer who works on Chrome; you can easily put your worries to rest if you’re thinking this book is going to lack intellectualism, or concise and proper guidance to help you master Backbone as your own hands. The book’s chapters will introduce to you…

  • How to use the MVC with Backbone to bring immense benefits to your client-side development workflow
  • How to write readable, extendable, and structured code
  • A rundown of common pitfalls when working with Backbone and how to best face them
  • A boilerplate for bootstrapping an application, a guide on bridging Backbone + jQuery Mobile to get your feet wet with mobile development
  • Plenty of guides on unit testing.
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Head First JavaScript Programming

Head First JavaScript Programming

The Head First series of books have helped hundreds of thousands of new and aspiring developers to finally master the language that they found to be so appealing to them. This is one such book in the series that focuses on teaching beginners the fundamentals, best practices, and introduction level concepts of how to become a JavaScript master. The book, which is almost 800 pages, speaks for itself. This book covers both fundamentals, and also more advanced areas of JS. Needless to say, the book isn’t just about book-worming all day; it’s packed with challenges and puzzles that require your full attention in order to complete them. The best way to learn is through practice, and this book takes that statement rather seriously.

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If Hemingway Wrote JavaScript

If Hemingway Wrote JavaScript

Ernest Hemingway has somehow made his way into the programming world. We have the Hemingway App helping writers to write better sentences. We also have hackers constantly quote Ernest Hemingway from his novels, journals and short stories. The man was one of a kind writer, and it shows. Angus Croll takes Hemingway’s approach to development to a new level. He wants developers to recognize themselves as true creative artists with infinite possibilities in their self-universes, offering prose and code verses that will forever inspire unique approaches to the way you code. The book isn’t a learning resource, rather it is a resource that will help you remain creative and forever inspired in the ways that it is possible to write code.

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JavaScript for Kids

JavaScript for Kids

How long do we have to wait before computer science becomes a default subject in schools? Surely, many are going to dread this decision. However, many will welcome it with open hands, especially parents who are developers, engineers and designers themselves. JavaScript for Kids is a warm, easy to follow, and pleasant book. It helps kids learn JS programming through concise examples with funny visuals.

The book introduces basics concepts like arrays, loops and strings, and progresses towards using jQuery, and visual drawing for the web using Canvas. The book is aged at kids that are ten or older, and parents are welcome to participate, too. This is what you will learn:

  • Create JS functions and use code over again
  • Write HTML for dynamic websites
  • Use jQuery and DOM to allow form input
  • Animate and draw web graphics using Canvas
  • Build a variety of traditional games using JS
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Data Visualization with JavaScript

Data Visualization with JavaScript

Data visualization has been a huge topic for JS devs and big data scientists already. Many JS libraries enable seamless data visualization. Although, JS itself is structured in ways that allow for native data visualization to happen. Although, many still prefer to use Python over JavaScript when it comes to anything-data related. The book covers practical and easy to follow examples of how to combine three skills (JS, HTML, and CSS) to create visualizations out of the data that is in your possession, be it standalone or within a database.

Once the book is finished, you will have the knowledge to:

  • Use your data and build pie charts, data maps, heat-maps, networking graphs, a cloud of words, and data timelines
  • How to add interactive features to your visualizations and fetch data without reloading web pages using AJAX
  • How to tap into the full potential of some of the most popular JavaScript libraries for building charts and data visualizations.
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CoffeeScript – Accelerated JavaScript Development

CoffeeScript - Accelerated JavaScript Development

One might argue that the native JS syntax is difficult, unconvinient to follow. Well, some people listened to this advice and came up with an alternative — CoffeeScript. With CoffeeScript you get the same power that JavaScript already provides, just with a more aligned and personal syntax that looks more readable, and in some ways makes more sense. If you want to write applications even faster, CoffeeScript might help you out with the task. CoffeeScript is every bit as portable and effective as JavaScript. It aids development by adding a bevy of features, such as classes, splats, list comprehensions, and destructuring. These features make it easier to write clear, readable code. By learning how these features work, you’ll deepen your understanding of JavaScript as well. This book is your complete guide to writing better JavaScript code, faster.

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Automate with Grunt

Automate with Grunt

Grunt is for running JavaScript tasks. It is for making your development process more automated and aligned with your workflow. In the sea of libraries that we all swim on a daily basis now, it is possible to create large-scale JS projects without involving features of task runners such as Grunt. With Grunt you are in charge of building tasks, creating app templates, putting together libraries and plugins, or to create your own plugins. The book covers all aspects related to Grunt. It also covers how to make your JavaScript workflow of enterprise level. Anyone who has adapted tools like Grunt will tell you that you are crazy for not doing the same; there’s no better way to rapidly increase your productivity.

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MEAN Machine

MEAN Machine

Some technologies stand out more than the rest, MEAN is one of them. MEAN stands for MongoDB, Express, Angular, and Node. Four modern technologies that you see powering the biggest and most powerful web apps on the market today. Each individual framework, and database, has their own set of extraordinary features. To have all of them put together into one stack… that’s just pure beauty. Chris Sevilleja and Holly Lloyd give their absolutely best advice on how to build staggering apps using the MEAN stack.

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Beginning Mobile App Development with React Native

Beginning Mobile App Development with React Native

Want to become a better mobile app developer? You should try out React Native, an amazing framework for pushing out native apps using nothing but traditional JavaScript. Forget about relying on other languages to build native apps, use your favorite language and make the most of it. A great guide towards React Native from Manuel Kiessling.

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Javascript Technical Interview Questions

Javascript Technical Interview Questions

With all this knowledge at your disposal now, you are sure to land some new and exciting jobs. But, that is going to require more than just eagerness to learn, or having the charm of a great recruitee. You need to prepare yourself for one of the most difficult tasks in the process of finding a job: attending an interview.

Programmer interviews can be a real pain to do. They push your boundaries, and present challenges that can at times feel all too overwhelming to even bother. But, the leading companies we have today all employ rigorous hiring processes that heavily rely on interviews to learn more about the people that wish to work for them. If you want to who work for Google or Apple, you need to know what to prepare for. This book from Xuanyi Chew will be of utmost importance as a starting point for understanding engineering interviews, and what you should look out for when applying for a new job.

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Learning JavaScript from Books

Taking away what books have provided for us in these lives, it would be insanity. Books remain as consistent ways of learning about new subjects, and doing it through the way of acquiring knowledge that someone else has acquired. Books can teach us so much, even if they feel utterly boring at times. A good programming book will make your head hurt, because it is so rich in knowledge that you have to take breaks constantly just to keep up. But, these are the books that we wanted to focus on here today, so hopefully all the head hurting is going to lead you one step closer to becoming a proficient web developer and web architect.

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Alex is a freelance writer with more than 10 years of experience in design, development, and small business. His work has been featured in publications like Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, TheNextWeb, and others. You can find his personal writing at The Divine Indigo.

This Post Has One Comment

  1. Joselie Castañeda says:

    thanks, nice list!

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