The Book of Javascript: A Practical Guide to Interactive Web Pages with CD-ROM

Amazon.com
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: A Practical Guide to Interactive Web Pages is plenty practical, and hits the mark as a reader-friendly and well-organized tutorial on JavaScript.

The book assumes no prior knowledge in JavaScript or other procedural languages, although 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 skillfully weave text with example code. Sections of the code and related sections of the accompanying text are numbered--a convention that is very helpful in teaching new techniques, and for quick reference later on.

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, for instance, shows frame techniques, too. 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 of the JavaScript tutorials out there, The Book of JavaScript is one of the more engaging and truly effective. --Stephen W. Plain

FROM OUR EDITORS

Draw upon real-world web sites to master all the JavaScripts and JavaScripting you'll need! Start with the staples: date/time, browser detection, redirection, rollovers, and opening multiple windows. Create your own JavaScript functions for displaying pop-ups; use JavaScript to write and read HTML forms; trigger functions from form elements, and much more. Thau, who wrote Webmonkey's well-known JavaScript tutorial, is one of the world's most effective JavaScript teachers. It shows here.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

JavaScript lets users enrich their Web pages with interactivity, animation, and other fun and useful features that can make a site worth every click. Unlike many other books, this complete guide teaches the JavaScript language as well as how to apply it. JavaScript savant David Thau guides coders through every hurdle, covering image swaps, functions, frames, cookies, alarms, and other seemingly mysterious JavaScript capacities with ease. Both reference and tutorial, each chapter addresses a particular function with a real-world example and an appropriate lesson. Readers try their hand and then see how the author coded it. Chapter by chapter, they acquire a range of skills including how to make a Web site remember a visitor's name and preferences. An accompanying CD-ROM includes the entire book, several bonus chapters, and all the coding in the examples.

FROM THE CRITICS

Booknews

Written for beginners who have learned HTML, this series of 14 tutorials introduces basic JavaScript and its use to add interactivity and animation to web pages. The CD-ROM contains examples from the book and script libraries. Distributed by Publishers Group West. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Foreword

JavaScript is to web pages what fourth generation languages were to mainframe computers in the seventies and eighties. It allows web pages to pass information to and from computer programs on web servers. JavaScript has the ability to read what a website visitor has entered into a form, perform a mathematical calculation based on the input, and provide feedback by displaying the results in another part of the form. It can be used to calculate a monthly payment on a loan, score an exam, or verify a visitor's e-mail address. Best of all, it doesn't require a programming background.

The Book of JavaScript is ideal for people who are intimidated by the thought of writing code. It explains in truly basic terms the functions of programming language. Numerous figures and screen prints illustrate the examples explained in the book and make it easy for readers to copy the commands directly from the book into their own programs. It also incudes a CD that contains many useful scripts that can be modified to meet readers' specific needs. The "Tripod" file, for example, demonstrates use of a pop-up window for separating advertisements from the content of a web page.

This book bridges the gap between reference guides and tutorials in that it contains elements of both; it teaches the JavaScript language and illustrates practical applications of the scripts. Brief exercises at the end of each chapter walk readers through applying the principles discussed in the chapter by following examples and writing their own simple scripts.

A working knowledge of HTML is helpful but not necessary. JavaScript is the only web programming language that works directly with web browsers to access images, forms,and windows. The book candidly admits the limitations of JavaScript such as its inability to talk to servers or to create graphics. It does, however, explain how to get around these shortcomings and how to interface with different web browsers and other programs.

Thau is a senior scientist at Nerve ... wand a recognized JavaScript expert and educator. JavaScript achieves its goal of giving readers enough of an understanding of the language to interpret other people's scripts as well as to write their own. This book is for those wanting to add a dynamic and interactive look to their web pages.

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