JavaScript Lessons

book cover
book cover

For a complete beginners course on JavaScript, click the icon on the right and buy The Web Wizard's Guide to JavaScript by Steven Estrella . For a complete reference text on JavaScript, click the icon on the right and buy the JavaScript Bible by Danny Goodman . Learning to program in JavaScript is a great idea for several reasons:

  1. Virtually all web browsers today support JavaScript.
  2. Macromedia products, like Flash, Director, and Dreamweaver, rely on JavaScript or JavaScript-like languages to create interactivity and interface enhancement.
  3. Adobe products, like Acrobat and LiveMotion, also use JavaScript or JavaScript-like languages.
  4. The QuickTime HREF track allows JavaScript functions to be called at predetermined points in the playback of a QuickTime movie.
  5. JavaScript allows for the use of external code libraries (.js files) to encourage reusable code.
  6. The syntax of JavaScript is very similar to the syntax of C, C++, and Java. Time invested in learning JavaScript will bear fruit for many years to come.
  7. Learning a programming language is good for the mind. Creative problem solving and logical thinking are required to succeed in programming. The study of programming encourages the development of these abilities.

JavaScript is the most popular scripting language used on the web. The first step in learning any language is to learn the basic concepts and then experiment with sequence, looping, and conditional branching. The books and links on this page will assist you in learning JavaScript.

JavaScript Links

  1. JavaScript Basics
  2. Programming Basics: Sequence, Looping, and Conditional Branching
  3. JavaScript and XHTML - some new rules
  4. Code listings from The Web Wizard's Guide to JavaScript - FREE
    (opens in a new window)