JavaScript is a scripting language that allows adding interactivity to HTML pages. It can react to events, read and write HTML elements, validate data, detect the visitor's browser, create cookies, and more. The DOM defines a standard for accessing and manipulating HTML documents. JavaScript uses objects, functions, and prototypes for object-oriented programming. Key concepts include encapsulation, inheritance, and abstraction. Events follow the capturing and bubbling phases. JavaScript supports conditionals, loops, functions, scopes, closures, and more.