The Book of JavaScript: A Practical Guide to Interactive Web Pages - Softcover

Thau, Dave

 
9781886411364: The Book of JavaScript: A Practical Guide to Interactive Web Pages

Synopsis

This isn't just a book of scripts for you to cut and paste into your HTML, only to find out that nothing works. The Book of JavaScript will teach you how to use JavaScript to quickly add interactivity, animation and other tricks to your Web pages - on your own and without cut-and-paste solutions. Using real-world examples as a starting point, wild-man Thau shows you, step-by-step, how various scripts work and how to use them to produce the effects you want.

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Review

Most Web developers pick up a book to learn how to use a language like JavaScript looking for practical examples of how to get things done. The Book of JavaScript is plenty practical: it hits the mark as a reader-friendly and well-organised tutorial on JavaScript.

The book assumes no prior knowledge in JavaScript or other procedural languages, but a good familiarity with HTML is best. The well-thought-out text focuses on various programming goals--like rollovers and form validation--instead of the anatomy of the JavaScript language itself. The fast-moving chapters skilfully weave text with example code. Sections of the code and the related sections of the accompanying text are numbered, a convention that is very helpful in teaching new techniques and later on for quick reference.

Throughout the book, real-world examples of JavaScript in action, such as a clock script from NASA's site, illustrate its applications. A page from salon.com shows frame techniques too, for instance. Ambitious readers can complete assignments to test their knowledge. The companion CD-ROM contains all of the code as well as correct answers for the assignments.

Of all the JavaScript tutorials out there, The Book of JavaScript is one of the most engaging and truly effective. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered:

  • Browser detection
  • Rollovers
  • Window manipulation
  • Custom functions
  • Form processing
  • Arrays
  • Loops
  • Timing events
  • Frames
  • Image maps
  • Form validation
  • Cookies
  • Dynamic HTML (DHTML)
  • Plug-ins
  • ActiveX controls

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