How to Create a Secure Password with a Random Password Generator

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. JS Fundamentals
   1. Data Types and Variables
   2. If-Else Condition
   3. Comparison and Logical Operators
   4. Arrays and Objects
   5. Loops
   6. Functions
3. JavaScript Projects
   1. Random Password Generator
4. Components of a JavaScript Application
   1. HTML
   2. CSS
   3. JavaScript
5. Writing the HTML Structure
6. Writing the CSS
7. Writing the JavaScript
8. Conclusion

Introduction

Welcome back to 100 Days of Coding JavaScript! In this series, we have covered all the fundamentals of JavaScript, including data types, variables, if-else conditions, comparison and logical operators, arrays, objects, loops, and functions. Now, it's time to take our JavaScript knowledge to the next level by working on some exciting projects.

JS Fundamentals

Before diving into the projects, let's quickly recap the fundamentals of JavaScript that we have covered so far.

Data Types and Variables

We have learned about different data types in JavaScript, such as strings, numbers, booleans, arrays, and objects. We also know how to declare and manipulate variables to store and access data.

If-Else Condition

Conditional statements allow us to execute different blocks of code based on certain conditions. We have explored the if-else condition and how to use comparison and logical operators to evaluate conditions.

Comparison and Logical Operators

By using comparison and logical operators, we can compare values and combine multiple conditions to make complex decisions within our code.

Arrays and Objects

Arrays and objects are essential data structures in JavaScript. We have learned how to create, access, and manipulate arrays and objects to store and manage structured data.

Loops

Loops are used to repeat a block of code multiple times. We have covered different types of loops, including the for loop, while loop, and do-while loop, and understand how they can be used to automate repetitive tasks.

Functions

Functions are reusable blocks of code that perform a specific task. We know how to define and call functions, pass arguments, and return values. Functions help us organize our code and make it more modular.

JavaScript Projects

Now, let's get into the exciting part. We will start working on JavaScript projects that will allow us to apply our knowledge and gain hands-on experience.

Random Password Generator

The first project we are going to build is called the random password generator. This application allows users to generate a random password by specifying the length and selecting whether to include numbers and special characters. It's a simple yet interesting project that will give us a good understanding of building JavaScript applications.

Components of a JavaScript Application

Before we start building the random password generator, let's understand the components of a JavaScript application.

HTML

HTML is the markup language used to structure the content of a web page. In our case, we need to write HTML to create the user interface of our random password generator. We will create elements such as headings, input fields, checkboxes, and buttons.

CSS

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is used to style the HTML elements and make them visually appealing. We will add CSS rules to layout the application, change colors, fonts, and other visual aspects.

JavaScript

JavaScript is the programming language that brings interactivity and functionality to our application. We will write JavaScript code to handle user interactions, generate random passwords, and perform other necessary tasks.

Writing the HTML Structure

Let's start by writing the HTML structure for our random password generator. We have already created a folder for our project and prepared the basic scaffolding of the HTML file.

To create the user interface, we will follow the mockups provided. The UI consists of an outer box, a heading, an input field for specifying the length of the password, checkboxes for including numbers and special characters, and buttons for generating and copying the password.

Writing the CSS

After writing the HTML structure, we will move on to writing the CSS for our application. CSS will help us style the elements and achieve the desired visual layout. We will align the elements, change colors, fonts, and apply other styles to make our random password generator look appealing and user-friendly.

Writing the JavaScript

Once we have the HTML and CSS in place, we will write the JavaScript code to bring our application to life. We will handle user interactions, generate random passwords based on the specified length and options, and provide functionality for copying the generated password.

Conclusion

In this article, we have introduced the random password generator project and discussed the fundamentals of JavaScript. We have covered data types, variables, if-else conditions, comparison and logical operators, arrays, objects, loops, and functions. We have also outlined the components of a JavaScript application, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. In the next sections, we will dive deeper into writing the HTML structure, CSS, and JavaScript code for our random password generator.

Random Password Generator

In this section, we will start building our first JavaScript project, the random password generator. This application allows users to generate a random password with the desired length and options.

Creating the HTML Structure

First, let's begin by creating the HTML structure for our random password generator. Open your code editor and navigate to the folder where you have saved your project files.

Inside the folder, we have already created the basic scaffolding of the HTML file. Open the HTML file and start writing the HTML for our application.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>JavaScript Random Password Generator</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="style.css">
</head>
<body>
    <div class="outer-box">
        <h1>Random Password Generator</h1>
        <form>
            <div class="input">
                <label for="length">Length:</label>
                <input type="number" id="length" min="4" max="24" value="8">
            </div>
            <div class="checkbox">
                <label><input type="checkbox" id="includeNumbers">Include Numbers</label>
                <label><input type="checkbox" id="includeSpecialChars">Include Special Characters</label>
            </div>
            <div class="buttons">
                <button type="submit" id="generateButton">Generate Password</button>
                <button id="copyButton">Copy Password</button>
            </div>
        </form>
    </div>

    <script src="script.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Styling the Application with CSS

Now that we have the HTML structure, let's move on to styling our random password generator using CSS.

Open the CSS file (style.css) and add the following CSS code to style the different elements of our application.

.outer-box {
    margin: 50px auto;
    padding: 20px;
    width: 400px;
    background-color: #f0f0f0;
    border-radius: 5px;
    text-align: center;
}

h1 {
    font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;
    font-size: 24px;
    margin-bottom: 30px;
}

.input label, .checkbox label {
    display: block;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
}

.buttons {
    margin-top: 20px;
}

button {
    padding: 10px 20px;
    margin-right: 10px;
    border-radius: 5px;
    font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;
    font-size: 16px;
}

#generateButton {
    background-color: #4caf50;
    color: white;
    border: none;
    cursor: pointer;
}

#copyButton {
    background-color: #007bff;
    color: white;
    border: none;
    cursor: pointer;
}

#copyButton:disabled {
    background-color: #b2b2b2;
    cursor: not-allowed;
}

Generating a Random Password with JavaScript

With the HTML structure and CSS styling in place, it's time to write the JavaScript code for our random password generator.

Create a new JavaScript file (script.js) in your project folder and add the following code:

function generateRandomPassword(length, includeNumbers, includeSpecialChars) {
    // Define character sets
    const lowercaseLetters = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz";
    const uppercaseLetters = lowercaseLetters.toUpperCase();
    const numbers = "0123456789";
    const specialChars = "!@#$%^&*()_+~`|}{[]:;?><,./-=";

    let allowedChars = lowercaseLetters + uppercaseLetters;
    if (includeNumbers) {
        allowedChars += numbers;
    }
    if (includeSpecialChars) {
        allowedChars += specialChars;
    }

    let randomPassword = "";
    for (let i = 0; i < length; i++) {
        const randomIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * allowedChars.length);
        randomPassword += allowedChars.charAt(randomIndex);
    }

    return randomPassword;
}

const generateButton = document.getElementById("generateButton");
const copyButton = document.getElementById("copyButton");

generateButton.addEventListener("click", function(event) {
    event.preventDefault();

    const length = parseInt(document.getElementById("length").value);
    const includeNumbers = document.getElementById("includeNumbers").checked;
    const includeSpecialChars = document.getElementById("includeSpecialChars").checked;

    const password = generateRandomPassword(length, includeNumbers, includeSpecialChars);
    alert("Generated Password: " + password);
});

copyButton.addEventListener("click", function(event) {
    event.preventDefault();

    const password = document.getElementById("output").value;
    if (password) {
        navigator.clipboard.writeText(password)
            .then(() => alert("Password copied to clipboard"))
            .catch(() => alert("Failed to copy password to clipboard"));
    }
});

In the JavaScript code, we define a function called generateRandomPassword that takes in the length of the password and two boolean values indicating whether to include numbers and special characters. The function generates a random password based on these criteria and returns it.

We then get references to the HTML elements using their IDs and add event listeners to the generate button and copy button. When the generate button is clicked, the event listener function is called. It retrieves the values from the input fields and checkboxes, calls the generateRandomPassword function, and displays the generated password in an alert.

The copy button functionality copies the generated password to the clipboard using the navigator.clipboard.writeText method. If the copy operation is successful, an alert is shown.

With the JavaScript code added, our random password generator is now fully functional.

Conclusion

In this section, we have built a random password generator using JavaScript. We have created the HTML structure, styled the application using CSS, and added JavaScript code for generating and copying passwords. This project gave us hands-on experience with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and helped us reinforce our understanding of the concepts covered in the previous sections.

In the next part of the video tutorial, we will explore additional JavaScript projects and further enhance our skills. Stay tuned!

Highlights

• Learn all the fundamentals of JavaScript, including data types, variables, if-else conditions, comparison and logical operators, arrays, objects, loops, and functions.
• A step-by-step guide to building a random password generator using JavaScript.
• Understand the components of a JavaScript application: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Write the HTML structure, style the application with CSS, and add JavaScript code for generating and copying passwords.
• Gain hands-on experience with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript by working on a real-world project.

FAQ

Q: Can I generate a random password without including numbers or special characters? A: Yes, you can generate a password that only includes alphabets by leaving the "Include Numbers" and "Include Special Characters" checkboxes unchecked.

Q: Is the generated password truly random? A: Yes, the generateRandomPassword function uses a random index to select characters from the allowed character set, ensuring randomness in the generated passwords.

Q: How can I copy the generated password to my clipboard? A: Click on the "Copy Password" button, and the generated password will be copied to your clipboard automatically.

Q: What is the maximum length of the password that can be generated? A: The maximum length of the password is set to 24 characters, but you can adjust it by changing the "max" attribute value of the input field in the HTML code.

Q: Can I use this random password generator in my own projects? A: Yes, feel free to use this random password generator in your personal or commercial projects. Just make sure to credit the original source if you are using the code as is.