JavaScript: A Beginner's Guide, Fifth Edition

Get up and running on the latest JavaScript standard using this fully updated beginner's guide This hands-on, fast-paced guide shows, from start to finish, how to create dynamic Web pages complete with special effects using JavaScript. This edition contains updates for all major new features and the latest Web development techniques and practices. You will discover how to extend JavaScript's capabilities to the server side using Node.js. A Beginner's Guide, Fifth Edition begins by clearly explaining the fundamentals, including variables, functions, operators, event handlers, objects, arrays, strings, and forms. From there, the book moves on to more advanced techniques, such as debugging, accessibility, and security. Throughout, "Ask the Expert," "Try This," notes, tips, and self tests highlight salient points and aid in learning. Teaches, step by step, how to get started developing Web applications Features detailed examples and downloadable project files Written by an experienced Web developer and JavaScript expert Cover Title Page Copyright Page Dedication About the Author Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION 1 Introduction to JavaScript What You Need to Know Basic HTML and CSS Knowledge Basic Text Editor and Web Browser Knowledge Which Version? Client-Side and Server-Side Programming Beginning with JavaScript Prototype-Based Interpreted Language Numerous Environments Putting It All Together Online Resources Try This 1-1: Use JavaScript to Write Text Chapter 1 Self Test 2 Placing JavaScript in an HTML File Using the HTML Script Tags Identifying the Scripting Language Calling External Scripts Specifying when the Script Should Load Using Tags Creating Your First Script Writing a “Hello World” Script Creating an HTML Document for the Script Inserting the Script into the HTML Document Try This 2-1: Insert a Script into an HTML Document Using External JavaScript Files Creating a JavaScript File Creating the HTML Files Viewing the Pages in Your Browser Try This 2-2: Call an External Script from an HTML Document Using JavaScript Comments Inserting Comments on One Line Adding Multiple-Line Comments Chapter 2 Self Test 3 Using Variables Understanding Variables Why Variables Are Useful Variables as Placeholders for Unknown Values Variables as Time-Savers Variables as Code Clarifiers Defining Variables for Your Scripts Declaring Variables Assigning Values to Variables Naming Variables Understanding Data Types Number String Boolean Null Undefined Symbol Object Try This 3-1: Declare Variables Using Variables in Scripts Making a Call to a Variable Adding Variables to Text Strings Writing a Page of JavaScript Creating the Framework Defining the Variables Adding the Commands Modifying the Page Try This 3-2: Create an HTML Page with JavaScript Chapter 3 Self Test 4 Using Functions What a Function Is Why Functions Are Useful Structuring Functions Declaring Functions Defining the Code for Functions Naming Functions Adding Arguments to Functions Adding Return Statements to Functions Calling Functions in Your Scripts Script Tags: Head Section or Body Section Calling a Function from Another Function Calling Functions with Arguments Calling Functions with Return Statements Other Ways to Define Functions Try This 4-1: Create an HTML Page with Functions Scope/Context Basics Global Context Function Context Block Context Try This 4-2: Write Your Own Functions Chapter 4 Self Test 5 JavaScript Operators Understanding the Operator Types Understanding Arithmetic Operators The Addition Operator (+) The Subtraction Operator (–) The Multiplication Operator (*) The Division Operator (/) The Modulus Operator (%) The Increment Operator (++) The Decrement Operator (– –) The Unary Plus Operator (+) The Unary Negation Operator (–) The Exponentiation Operator Understanding Assignment Operators The Assignment Operator (=) The Add-and-Assign Operator (+=) The Subtract-and-Assign Operator (–=) The Multiply-and-Assign Operator (*=) The Divide-and-Assign Operator (/=) The Modulus-and-Assign Operator (%=) The Exponent-and-Assign Operator (**=) Try This 5-1: Adjust a Variable Value Understanding Comparison Operators The Is-Equal-To Operator (==) The Is-Not-Equal-To Operator (!=) The Strict Is-Equal-To Operator (===) The Strict Is-Not-Equal-To Operator (!==) The Is-Greater-Than Operator (>) The Is-Less-Than Operator ( =) The Is-Less-Than-or-Equal-To Operator (