JavaScript

Scripting is a small program that is event driven and easier to grasp. Scripts are included in the HTML document with the help of script tag. This tag may be included in the body or head of the HTML document. It is advisable to include an external JavaScript file in the head tag of the document when several HTML documents use the similar JavaScript in the respective documents. When one uses the same scripting language throughout the HTML document, then one can include a meta tag, which defines the default script type for the whole document, as shown here ‘meta http-equiv=”Content-Script-Type” content=”type”’. JavaScript designs dynamic content, programs content and displays updated content (default or automated) when the page loads, builds slide shows, redirects the user to a different page, combines with CSS to animate page elements, validates user inputs (form validation), adds conditionality to various events and performs tasks accordingly, creates navigation bars and alters the menus dynamically (UTS website). A good example of JavaScript generated UI is seen in Gmail Interface. Some good resources for JavaScript Programming and free JavaScript are available at (http://l.pr/a43bm/). The tutorials for making image rollovers and navigation menu are note worthy. Another good site for creating JavaScript clock is at (http://l.pr/a43bn/). These sites give you a readymade code. Apart from this I rely a lot on Alastair video tutorials, as I find them very comprehensive. In fact I find JavaScript complete and best of everything. I find it very closely related to the processing language ‘C’ though it is event driven. Also an added advantage with JavaScript is that it works well with majority of the browsers and can be made into an external file and called from a plain HTML document. Moreover majority of the JavaScript code are freely available, however, one needs to customize them accordingly. WebDeveloper has more than 700 downloadble JavaScript samples at (http://l.pr/a43bo/).

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Reference:-

Elated.com, viewed 27 August 2009, http://www.elated.com/articles/creating-a-javascript-clock/

Hayes, D. 2006, Sams teach yourself HTML in 10 Minutes, 4^th Edn , The USA

Thesitewizard.com, viewed 26 August 2009,

http://www.thesitewizard.com/javascripts/index.shtml

Tittel, E. & Burmeister, M. 2005, HTML 4 for Dummies 5^th Edn, Wiley Publishing Inc., Indiana

Webdeveloper.com, viewed 28 August 2009, http://webdeveloper.com/javascript/