JavaScript is the language of the Web. Used for programming all major browsers, JavaScript gives you the ability to enhance your web site by creating interactive, dynamic and personalized pages. Our focus in this book is on client-side scripting, but JavaScript is also hugely popular as a scripting language in server-side environments, a subject that we cover in later chapters. Beginning JavaScript assumes no prior knowledge of programming languages, and teaches you all the fundamental concepts that you need as you progress. After covering the core JavaScript language, you'll move on to learn about more advanced technique including Dynamic HTML, using cookies, debugging techniques, and server-side scripting with ASP. By the end of this book, you will have mastered the art of using JavaScript to create dynamic and professional-looking web pages. Who is this book for ? This book is for anyone who wants to learn JavaScript. You will need a very basic knowledge of HTML, but no prior programming experience is necessary. Whether you want to pick up some programming skills, or want to find out how to transfer your existing programming knowledge to the Web, then this book is for you. All you need is a text editor (like Notepad) and a browser, and you're ready to go !
Javascript is the only scripting language that runs in all the leading Web browsers, making it an essential part of the Web developer's tool kit. The language itself is not especially difficult to learn, but it becomes more challenging when you include related topics such as HTML forms, dynamic HTML and cross-browser compatibility.
Beginning JavaScript, which is suitable for beginning or intermediate programmers, covers all these topics and more to provide a complete Javascript handbook.
Early chapters cover language basics, such as data types, functions, conditions and loops, string handling, and programming with objects. The authors explain how to control the Web browser by programming its object model, and how to combine scripts with forms. There is a guide to debugging with Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer, and a chapter on using cookies to store user preferences.
A substantial part of the book is focused on Dynamic HTML and how to write scripts that control the content of the page. There is a clear explanation of the DOM (document object model), as specified by the W3C Web standards group. Finally, there is a look at extending browser capabilities with ActiveX controls or plug-ins, and server-side scripting with Active Server Pages, including database access. Several appendixes offer a language reference and object models for Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator 4.0. Sadly Netscape 6.0 is not covered, but it is not quite as bad as it sounds since Netscape 6.0 closely follows the official DOM. --Tim Anderson
