JavaScript provides so much more functionality than a basic webpage can ever hope to accomplish with a server behind it. With JavaScript, there can be a clock that ticks seconds, you can move objects around a page, or even sift through a group of pictures with cool visual effects.

Once you learn JavaScript and understand the power it has to offer, there is a mentality to use JavaScript all over the place, but never be concerned with the situation of when JavaScript is disabled. There used to be browsers without JavaScript support and it was important to take them into account. Today, most browsers support JavaScript, but mobile devices are in the same situation its older siblings were in.

Even if there is JavaScript support, it’s important to make sure that the web application still functions with some feedback should some external force (such as AJAX never receiving a response) fail. Too often these applications are left hanging with no feedback that anything is happening. This annoyance can cause a user to lose interest and abandon such an application.

Recovery from these issues does take some time to develop, but the application becomes stronger and more robust. If a user is notified to restart the application, the user is given something to do. They know the application isn’t working on something big behind the scenes. Something went wrong and their action is required.

One of the important things to remember is that if a button calls JavaScript, you should dynamically add it with JavaScript to the interface. If JavaScript isn’t enabled, the button will never display, and therefore never call JavaScript that never runs. A user who doesn’t see the functionality will never miss it.