Beginning JavaScript

Book Preface

JavaScript is a scripting language that enables you to enhance static web applications by providing dynamic, personalized, and interactive content. This improves the experience of visitors to your site and makes it more likely that they will visit again. You must have seen the fl ashy drop-down menus, moving text, and changing content that are now widespread on web sites — they are enabled through JavaScript. Supported by all the major browsers, JavaScript is the language of choice on the Web. It can even be used outside web applications — to automate administrative tasks, for example.

This book aims to teach you all you need to know to start experimenting with JavaScript: what it is, how it works, and what you can do with it. Starting from the basic syntax, you’ll move on to learn how to create powerful web applications. Don’t worry if you’ve never programmed before — this book will teach you all you need to know, step by step. You’ll fi nd that JavaScript can be a great introduction to the world of programming: with the knowledge and understanding that you’ll gain from this book, you’ll be able to move on to learn newer and more advanced technologies in the world of computing.

Whom This Book Is For

To get the most out of this book, you’ll need to have an understanding of HTML and how to create a static web page. You don’t need to have any programming experience.

This book will also suit you if you have some programming experience already and would like to turn your hand to web programming. You will know a fair amount about computing concepts, but maybe not as much about web technologies.

Alternatively, you may have a design background and know relatively little about the web and computing concepts. For you, JavaScript will be a cheap and relatively easy introduction to the world of programming and web application development. Whoever you are, we hope that this book lives up to your expectations.