Tip #2457 - JavaScript Basics
Printer Friendly Version | E-Mail This Tip
JavaScript
Basics
JavaScript
is basically a programming language that works with HTML.
It is a scripting language that is used to create different special effects
on standard Web pages. If you were to design a basic Web page, you would
use JavaScript to make the page dynamic and interactive for the viewers.
Some examples of JavaScript
in action are image rollovers, form input validations and it even helps
open popup windows. (Unfortunately, JavaScript is not used for everything
good!) If you are interested in using JavaScript, you must know how to
work with HTML and know how to edit HTML documents. You also must have
a Web browser that will support your JavaScript creations.
In HTML documents, JavaScripts
are shown with beginning tags of <SCRIPT> and ending tags of </SCRIPT>.
Like I mentioned earlier, if you don't know a whole lot about HTML, this
may be a little confusing to you.
So, if you are one
of the non-Web page creators, you can just look for JavaScript on the
different sites you visit. For example, on WorldStart's site, we use JavaScript
at the top of every page. If you go to our homepage and roll your mouse
over the tabs we have (Home, Software Store, Computer Tips, etc.), you
will see them light up from white to light blue. That is JavaScript in
action.
Another example is if you go
to a site and you see a picture moving. (Maybe you've gotten that e-mail
where the dog winks at you). All of that is JavaScript as well. It's all
around us on the Web and it's really cool if you think about it. Now,
go out and start looking for JavaScript! You might be surprised at how
much you find! : )
~ Erin
P.S. - In case you
were wondering, JavaScript is a little different than Java. Java is also
used with Web sites, but it has more to do with programming classes than
functions.
Want To Comment On This Tip? Click Here! We'd love to hear from you :-)
Like These Tips? Get 'Em Free In Your E-mail
