Self Review
At times, I will directly quote my instructor, Tari Akpodiete.
"JavaScript is a compact, object-based scripting language which allows one to make web pages with which a visitor can interact."
I understand this to mean a program within HTML that does something to something making web pages more exciting and understandable.
At least that's what I intend to use JS for.
"[JavaScript was] Invented by Netscape as a joint effort with Sun Micro-systems specifically for the purpose of adding functionality to Web sites."
JS is so different from Java I don't even think this question is even relevent except to avoid confusing the two.
JS can do a lot of exciting things, at least as a page writer I find them exciting. It can change the cursor. It can change a picture into another when you run your mouse over it. It can bounce animations around your page. It can do so much stuff for a web page I can't even list everything I've seen it do.
One thing it cannot do is takeover and control someone's computer.
I guess it is activated by the script tag by your browser if it is able to read JavaScript.