JavaScript is a lightweight, interpreted programming language used for building interactive effects into web pages. It allows for validation of user input in the browser before form submission to reduce server loads. JavaScript also enables dynamic updating of page content without reloading, through features like hover interactivity. While useful for client-side scripts, JavaScript has limitations like inability to access files and lacks multi-threading. Popular development tools for JavaScript include Microsoft FrontPage, Dreamweaver, and HomeSite.