JavaScript: The Missing Manual

Description

This book from bestselling author David McFarland teaches you how to use JavaScript in sophisticated ways -- even if you have little or no programming experience. Once you the master the language's structure and terminology, you'll learn how to use advanced JavaScript tools to add useful interactivity to your sites quickly, rather than script everything from scratch. Like other Missing Manuals, this one is clear, concise, and entertaining cover to cover.

Full Description

JavaScript is essential for creating modern, interactive Web sites. But, unlike HTML and CSS, JavaScript is a true programming language with complex rules that are challenging for most Web designers to learn. In JavaScript: The Missing Manual, bestselling author David McFarland teaches you how to use JavaScript in sophisticated ways -- even if you have little or no programming experience.

In a clear, entertaining way, the book starts out by teaching you how to build a basic JavaScript program. Then, once you've mastered the structure and terminology, you'll learn how to use advanced JavaScript tools to add useful interactivity to your sites quickly and painlessly, rather than scripting everything from scratch.

To jump-start your progress, the book offers several "living examples" -- step-by-step tutorials for building Web site components with JavaScript using raw materials, such as graphics and half-completed Web pages, that you can download from the book's companion Web site.

In this book, you will learn:

How to get started. The book introduces the building blocks of JavaScript, and general tips on computer programming. Learn to add scripts to a Web page; store and manipulate information; communicate with the browser window; respond to events like mouse clicks and form submissions; and identify and modify HTML.
How to build Web Page Features. McFarland provides real-world examples of JavaScript in action. Learn to create pop-up navigation bars, enhance HTML tables, build an interactive photo gallery, and make Web forms more usable. Create interesting user interfaces with tabbed panels, accordion panels and pop-up dialog boxes.
How to troubleshoot and debug. The book will teach you how to avoid the ten most common errors new programmers make, and how to find and fix bugs.
How to communicate with the Web server. In addition to basic JavaScript, this manual covers Ajax, the approach that made JavaScript glamorous. Learn to use JavaScript to communicate with a server so that your Web pages can receive information without having to reload.

If you want to put JavaScript to work right away without getting tangled up in code, JavaScript: The Missing Manual is the best book available.

Table of Contents

Getting Started with JavaScript
1. Chapter 1 Writing Your First JavaScript Program
  1. Introducing Programming
  2. How to Add JavaScript to a Page
  3. Your First JavaScript Program
  4. Writing Text on a Web Page
  5. Attaching an External JavaScript File
  6. Tracking Down Errors
2. Chapter 2 The Grammar of JavaScript
  1. Statements
  2. Commands
  3. Types of Data
  4. Variables
  5. Working with Data Types and Variables
  6. Tutorial: Using Variables to Create Messages
  7. Tutorial: Asking for Information
  8. Arrays
  9. Tutorial: Writing to a Web Page Using Arrays
  10. Comments
3. Chapter 3 Adding Logic and Control to Your Programs
  1. Making Programs React Intelligently
  2. Tutorial: Using Conditional Statements
  3. Handling Repetitive Tasks with Loops
  4. Functions: Turn Useful Code Into Reusable Commands
  5. Tutorial: A Simple Quiz
4. Chapter 4 Working with Words, Numbers, and Dates
  1. A Quick Object Lesson
  2. Strings
  3. Finding Patterns in Strings
  4. Numbers
  5. Dates and Times
  6. Tutorial
5. Chapter 5 Dynamically Modifying Web Pages
  1. Modifying Web Pages: An Overview
  2. Understanding the Document Object Model
  3. Introducing JavaScript Libraries
  4. Selecting Page Elements (Revisited)
  5. Adding Content to a Page
  6. Setting and Reading Tag Attributes
  7. Reading, Setting, and Removing HTML Attributes
  8. Creative Headlines
  9. Acting on Each Element in a Selection
  10. Automatic Pull Quotes
6. Chapter 6 Action/Reaction: Making Pages Come Alive with Events
  1. What Are Events?
  2. Using Events with Functions
  3. Tutorial: Highlighting Table Rows
  4. More jQuery Event Concepts
  5. Advanced Event Management
  6. Tutorial: A One-Page FAQ
7. Chapter 7 Improving Your Images
  1. Swapping Images
  2. Tutorial: Adding Rollover Images
  3. jQuery Effects
  4. Tutorial: Photo Gallery with Effects
  5. Advanced Gallery with jQuery lightBox
  6. Tutorial: lightBox Photo Gallery
  7. Animated Slideshows with Cycle
  8. Tutorial: An Automated Slideshow
Building Web Page Features
1. Chapter 8 Improving Navigation
  1. Some Link Basics
  2. Opening External Links in a New Window
  3. Creating New Windows
  4. Opening Pages in a Window on the Page
  5. Tutorial: Making Bigger Links
  6. Animated Navigation Menus
2. Chapter 9 Enhancing Web Forms
  1. Understanding Forms
  2. Adding Smarts to Your Forms
  3. Tutorial: Basic Form Enhancements
  4. Form Validation
  5. Validation Tutorial
3. Chapter 10 Expanding Your Interface
  1. Hiding Information with Accordion Panels
  2. Organizing Information in Tabbed Panels
  3. Tooltips
  4. Creating Sortable Tables
Ajax: Communicating with the Web Server
1. Chapter 11 Introducing Ajax
  1. What Is Ajax?
  2. Ajax: The Basics
  3. Ajax the jQuery Way
  4. JSON
2. Chapter 12 Basic Ajax Programming
  1. Tabs Plug-in
  2. Adding Google Maps to Your Site
Troubleshooting, Tips, and Tricks
1. Chapter 13 Troubleshooting and Debugging
  1. Top JavaScript Programming Mistakes
  2. Debugging with Firebug
  3. Debugging Tutorial
2. Chapter 14 Going Further with JavaScript
  1. Putting It All Together
  2. Writing More Efficient JavaScript
  3. Creating Fast-Loading JavaScript
Appendix
1. Appendix JavaScript Resources
  1. References
  2. Basic JavaScript
  3. jQuery
  4. The Document Object Model
  5. Ajax
  6. Advanced JavaScript
  7. CSS
  8. JavaScript Software

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Product Details

Title:

JavaScript: The Missing Manual

By:

David Sawyer McFarland

Publisher:

O'Reilly Media / Pogue Press

Formats:

Print
Ebook
Safari Books Online

Print Release:

July 2008

Ebook Release:

February 2009

Pages:

544

Print ISBN:

978-0-596-51589-8

| ISBN 10:

0-596-51589-8

Ebook ISBN:

978-0-596-15960-3

| ISBN 10:

0-596-15960-9

Customer Reviews

About the Author

David Sawyer McFarland

David Sawyer McFarland is the president of Sawyer McFarland Media Inc., a web development and training company located in Portland, Oregon. In addition, he teaches JavaScript programming, Flash, and web design at the University of California, Berkeley, the Center for Electronic Art, the Academy of Art College, and Ex'Pression College for Digital Arts. He was formerly the webmaster at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Berkeley Multimedia Research Center. David is also the author of CSS: The Missing Manual and Dreamweaver CS3: The Missing Manual.

View David Sawyer McFarland's full profile page.

O'Reilly Books & Videos

JavaScript: The Missing Manual

Getting Started with JavaScript

Chapter 1 Writing Your First JavaScript Program

Chapter 2 The Grammar of JavaScript

Chapter 3 Adding Logic and Control to Your Programs

Chapter 4 Working with Words, Numbers, and Dates

Chapter 5 Dynamically Modifying Web Pages

Chapter 6 Action/Reaction: Making Pages Come Alive with Events

Chapter 7 Improving Your Images

Building Web Page Features

Chapter 8 Improving Navigation

Chapter 9 Enhancing Web Forms

Chapter 10 Expanding Your Interface

Ajax: Communicating with the Web Server

Chapter 11 Introducing Ajax

Chapter 12 Basic Ajax Programming

Troubleshooting, Tips, and Tricks

Chapter 13 Troubleshooting and Debugging

Chapter 14 Going Further with JavaScript

Appendix

Appendix JavaScript Resources

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David Sawyer McFarland