JavaScript is a scripting language that allows dynamic interactivity on web pages. It was invented by Brendan Eich and was originally known as LiveScript. JavaScript is used to validate user input, provide immediate feedback, and create rich interfaces. While it runs on the client-side, JavaScript has limitations like not being able to read/write files or do networking. The language uses syntax like semicolons, comments, variables, operators, control flow, functions, events, objects, arrays, and error handling to add interactivity to web pages. JSON is a text format used to store and exchange data that is written with JavaScript object notation.