JavaScript Library
Javascript Introduction Share / Like
If you are new to Javascript let me be the first to welcome you to the world of web document programming. Javascript quite literally brings your html and css to life. One can view Javascript as the central nervous system of their web document, HTML as the skeleton, and CSS as the skin and fashion sense of the document.
In this particular guide we will tackle Javascript from the perspective of a webmaster and web application creator, while touching on topics important to game creators, animators, and multimedia programmers. I will assume you are proficient with HTML and CSS as I write this guide.
How It Works
It utilizes the Document Object model to target elements and properties of your web document. It also relies on HTML's event handling features to execute script in your documents in real time without requiring page refresh to alter the page elements. Javascript can run while your page loads, when people interact with something, according to timers you can program, and even when somebody tries to close or navigate away from your page. Javascript can control nearly everything on and about a web page. It handles user interaction, animation, form validation, dynamics, mathematics, and much more. Javascript is also part of what is known as Asynchronous JavaScript and XML(Ajax), which is a method used to make server and database calls behind the scenes and return data without the web document requiring refresh.
Similarity to Other Technologies
Javascript is similar to other scripting languages like C, Java, PHP, Actionscript 3.0 and many other programming technologies. The way that it works with variables, strings, functions, arrays, numbers, and objects is very similar to many technologies that came before it, and for sure many that will come after it. Since Javascript is somewhat similar to PHP and Actionscript 3.0, learning Javascript gives you an instant jump on learning any other type of popular scripting languages geared for the web or otherwise. If you happen to be coming from a programming background already, you will find Javascript to be a familiar walk in the park.
Transmission With Other Technologies
Javascript acts as a conduit of sorts that allows you to tap other technologies right into it. Javascript can tap into HTML and CSS no problem, PHP and Actionscript no sweat, MySQL and XML data transmissions are easy as pie with the myriad of technologies that communicate with Javascript. For instance Javascript cannot talk directly with a MySQL database to get data out of it, so we use Javascript(XMLHttpRequest object) to call on a PHP script that can talk direct to MySQL and transmit the database data straight back to Javascript for us to display in the document or do whatever evaluations upon.