Do I need JavaScript?

Published at: Feb 21, 2022

Yes, you probably need JavaScript enabled - in most cases...

Lets cut right to the chase: if you don't really care and just want to "get on with it", then the short answer is that yes it is normally quite alright to leave JavaScript enabled (or enable JavaScript if you haven't already!) and then not worry about it too much.

Every web browser comes with JavaScript enabled by default, and that's probably a pretty good sign that it's ok for most people to just leave it enabled.

The interesting thing is that there are definitely reasons to disable JavaScript, and if you want to have a more private and enjoyable experience online, you might consider reading all of this guide and tweaking some of your JavaScript settings.

But there's one important thing to do:

If you are going to just keep JavaScript enabled in your web browser, the most important thing you can do is make sure that your web browser is up to date.

Security related bugs with JavaScript in web browsers do appear from time to time, and they are usually fixed quickly by the browser makers, but the most important thing is to make sure your web browser is automatically updating itself. That way, when JavaScript bugs are found and fixed, you will quickly get a fixed version of your web browser that doesn't have that problem any more.

Deciding if you need JavaScript, in more detail

The question of whether you need JavaScript and should keep it enabled is impossible to answer properly for every single person in one single generalized guide. The detailed answer depends on what you're trying to do on the internet and how technical, secure, privacy minded, and diligent you are (or want to become). The best I can do is outline a few of the major decision points for enabling or disabling JavaScript and let you make your own mind up.

Things to consider regarding enabling JavaScript

• Why websites use JavaScript

  This guide is coming soon.

• Why disable JavaScript?

  Sometimes it's good to consider things from the opposite perspective and find out why some people disable JavaScript. Lets go over the main reasons that people are reluctant to allow JavaScript code to run.

• JavaScript security concerns

  Any time you access something over a network there is a possibility of a security problem - find out how much of a security risk JavaScript can be.