JavaScript is a scripting language used primarily for client-side web development. It was developed by Netscape, while Microsoft created a similar language called JScript. JavaScript code can be added to a webpage within <script> tags in the <head> section or by linking to an external .js file. JavaScript is case sensitive and supports data types like strings, numbers, Booleans, functions, objects, null and undefined. Common operators include &&, ||, and !. The Math object provides mathematical constants and functions.