JavaScript

Whether you're an old-school scripter who needs to modernize your JavaScripting skills or a standards-aware Web developer who needs best practices and code examples, you'll welcome this guide from a JavaScript master.

Other JavaScript books use example scripts that have little bearing on real-world Web development and are useful only in the chapter at hand. In contrast, Peter-Paul Koch's book uses eight real-world scripts he created for real-world clients in order to earn real-world money. That means the scripts are guaranteed to do something useful (and sellable!) that enhances the usability of the page they're used on.

The book's example scripts include one that sorts a data table according to the user's search queries, a form validation script, a script that shows form fields only when the user needs them, a drop-down menu, and a data retrieval script that uses simple Ajax and shows the data in an animation.

After an overview of JavaScript's purpose, Peter-Paul provides theoretical chapters on the context (jobs for JavaScript, CSS vs. JavaScript), the browsers (debugging, the arcana of the browser string), and script preparation. Then follow practical chapters on Core, BOM, Events, DOM, CSS Modification, and Data Retrieval, all of which are explained through a combination of theoretical instruction and the taking apart of the relevant sections of the example scripts.

Rather than comprehensive coverage of JavaScript features and functionalities, a JavaScript expert offers instruction on its basic and selected advanced features through real-world scripts he created for clients. Following conceptual, technical, and historical overviews of this programming language intended to enhance the usability of Web browsers, he discusses topics including accessibility issues, data-type conversion, and strategies for dealing with browser incompatibilities. The guide concludes with thoughts about JavaScript's future. Koch is the author of a Web standards task force group's "JavaScript Manifesto," which explains his emphasis on standards-compliant Web sites, and has a Web site for JavaScript programmers.
Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Rather than comprehensive coverage of JavaScript features and functionalities, a JavaScript expert offers instruction on its basic and selected advanced features through real-world scripts he created for clients. Following conceptual, technical, and historical overviews of this programming language intended to enhance the usability of Web browsers, he discusses topics including accessibility issues, data-type conversion, and strategies for dealing with browser incompatibilities. The guide concludes with thoughts about JavaScript's future. Koch is the author of a Web standards task force group's "JavaScript Manifesto," which explains his emphasis on standards-compliant Web sites, and has a Web site for JavaScript programmers. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Whether you're an old-school scripter who needs to modernize your JavaScripting skills or a standards-aware Web developer who needs best practices and code examples, you'll welcome this guide from a JavaScript master. Unlike other JavaScript books, which use far too many example scripts (most of which have no bearing on real-world Web development and are useful only in the chapter at hand), Peter-Paul Koch's book uses scripts created for real-world clients--which means they're guaranteed to work! Each short chapter is devoted to a few related JavaScript concepts, which are explained through a combination of theoretical instruction and hands-on application (using the example scripts provided). After an overview of JavaScript and a description of how not to apply it, Peter-Paul provides chapters on the environment (debugging, jobs for JavaScript, CSS vs. JavaScript, and more), script planning, using the DOM, working with style, using events, data retrieval, and Viewport. The book's sample scripts include ones to sort a data table, show and hide form fields, load a drop-down menu (via Ajax), and more.

Peter-Paul Koch is an internationally recognized JavaScript expert whose Web site www.quirksmode.org is a must-go for all beginning and advanced JavaScript programmers. In addition to about 150 pages of JavaScript and CSS information, it contains the W3C DOM Compatibility Tables, currently the best resource on DOM browser compatibility problems. Peter-Paul is a member of the Web Standards Project DOM Scripting Task Force and has written its JavaScript Manifesto.