| Overview
JavaScript is a powerful, object-based scripting language;
JavaScript programs can be embedded directly in HTML web pages.
When combined with the Document Object Model (DOM) defined by a web
browser, JavaScript allows you to create Dynamic HTML content and
interactive client-side web applications. JavaScript syntax is
based on the popular programming languages C, C++, and Java, which
makes it familiar and easy to learn for experienced programmers. At
the same time, JavaScript is an interpreted scripting language,
providing a flexible, forgiving programming environment in which
new programmers can learn. JavaScript: The Definitive Guide
provides a thorough description of the core JavaScript language and
both the legacy and standard DOMs implemented in web browsers. The
book includes sophisticated examples that show you how to handle
common tasks, like validating form data, working with cookies, and
creating portable DHTML animations. The book also contains detailed
reference sections that cover the core JavaScript API, the legacy
client-side API, and the W3C standard DOM API, documenting every
JavaScript object, method, property, constructor, constant,
function, and event handler in those APIs. This fourth edition of
the bestselling JavaScript book has been carefully updated to cover
JavaScript 1.5 (ECMAScript version 3). The book also provides
complete coverage of the W3C DOM standard (Level 1 and Level 2),
while retaining material on the legacy Level 0 DOM for backward
compatibility. JavaScript: The Definitive Guide is a
complete programmer's guide and reference manual for JavaScript. It
is particularly useful for developers working with the latest
standards-compliant web browsers, like Internet Explorer 6,
Netscape 6, and Mozilla. HTML authors can learn how to use
JavaScript to build dynamic web pages. Experienced programmers can
quickly find the information they need to start writing
sophisticated JavaScript programs. This book is an indispensable
reference for all JavaScript programmers, regardless of experience
level.
Editorial ReviewsProduct DescriptionJavaScript is a powerful, object-based scripting language; JavaScript programs can be embedded directly in HTML web pages. When combined with the Document Object Model (DOM) defined by a web browser, JavaScript allows you to create Dynamic HTML content and interactive client-side web applications. JavaScript: The Definitive Guide provides a thorough description of the core JavaScript language and both the legacy and standard DOMs implemented in web browsers. The book also contains detailed reference sections that cover the core JavaScript API, the legacy client-side API, and the W3C standard DOM API, documenting every JavaScript object, method, property, constructor, constant, function, and event handler in those APIs. This fourth edition of the bestselling JavaScript book has been carefully updated to cover JavaScript 1.5. The book also provides complete coverage of the W3C DOM standard (Level 1 and Level 2), while retaining material on the legacy Level 0 DOM for backward compatibility. | Amazon.com ReviewSince the earliest days of Internet scripting, Web developers have considered JavaScript: The Definitive Guide an essential resource. David Flanagan's approach, which combines tutorials and examples with easy-to-use syntax guides and object references, suits the typical programmer's requirements nicely. The brand-new fourth edition of Flanagan's "Rhino Book" includes coverage of JavaScript 1.5, JScript 5.5, ECMAScript 3, and the Document Object Model (DOM) Level 2 standard from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Interestingly, the author has shifted away from specifying--as he did in earlier editions--what browsers support each bit of the language. Rather than say Netscape 3.0 supports the Image object while Internet Explorer 3.0 does not, he specifies that JavaScript 1.1 and JScript 3.0 support Image. More usefully, he specifies the contents of independent standards like ECMAScript, which encourages scripters to write applications for these standards and browser vendors to support them. As Flanagan says, JavaScript and its related subjects are very complex in their pure forms. It's impossible to keep track of the differences among half a dozen vendors' generally similar implementations. Nonetheless, a lot of examples make reference to specific browsers' capabilities. Though he does not cover server-side APIs, Flanagan has chosen to separate coverage of core JavaScript (all the keywords, general syntax, and utility objects like Array) from coverage of client-side JavaScript (which includes objects, like History and Event, that have to do with Web browsers and users' interactions with them. This approach makes this book useful to people using JavaScript for applications other than Web pages. By the way, the other classic JavaScript text--Danny Goodman's JavaScript Bible--isn't as current as this book, but it's still a fantastic (and perhaps somewhat more novice-friendly) guide to the JavaScript language and its capabilities. --David Wall Topics covered: The JavaScript language (version 1.0 through version 1.5) and its relatives, JScript and ECMAScript, as well as the W3C DOM standards they're often used to manipulate. Tutorial sections show how to program in JavaScript, while reference sections summarize syntax and options while providing copious code examples. |
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Reader Reviews From Amazon (Ranked by 'Helpfulness') Average Customer Rating: based on 286 reviews. Gave Me What I Needed - And More!, 2009-06-25 Reviewer rating: JavaScript: The Definitive Guide
I needed a reference guide to JavaScript. I am by no means an expert, I just wanted point solutions that were rather more "in depth" than the "geek boards".
My success criteria here are: 1. Did it make sense of JavaScript? and 2. More importantly, if I wanted a point solution - was it there?
Yes on both counts.
I am still new to JavaScript - so I will update this review later. | JavaScript: The Deep Doctrine, 2009-06-03 Reviewer rating: Note: My review is based on the 5th edition.
If you want to know how JavaScript really works, this is *the* book for exactly that. Understanding the core concepts of the language, such as the prototypical OO model, closures, functions as data, etc. will help you go far if JavaScript is something you use on daily basis.
While there are numerous JavaScript libraries in existence today (jQuery, MochiKit, Dojo, prototype, YUI, etc.) that simplify a lot of what needs to get done client-side, understanding the language itself is still necessary for those times when the abstractions that the libraries provide leak/fail or don't provide some feature you want.
If you are frustrated by JavaScript, you only need to spend the time educating yourself about how it really works. Once you do, and with some experience, you will reach that state of Nirvana that allows you to work easily in this language. | An indespensibe reference, 2009-04-30 Reviewer rating: A fantastically complete reference to Javascript. This is not a "learn Javascript" book, however - but a reference. The examples are not as detailed as in other "learning" books - but as a reference guide it cannot be beat. It is extremely rare that I can't find what I'm looking for in that book. I am using the 5th edition of the book, which is much better than the older editions - and I feel is the new standard for what should be called a "Definitive Guide". Pitfalls, quirks, browser differences and a complete (as of 2006 at least) property/function reference for both core and DOM javascript objects. Highly recommended. | And it's only $32? Wow., 2009-04-04 Reviewer rating: I bought this book because I wanted to learn JavaScript, and it is doing just that!!! There is so much stuff packed into this book that it is amazing, and I can't believe I only payed $32 for it! It covers everything you need to know. It goes into more detail about JavaScript than any book on any other language I have seen. And all the pages are not little flashy examples. It is a real reference for those who are serious about learning JS. | Who Cares About Core vs. Client? Just Give Me an Alphabetical Reference!, 2009-04-03 Reviewer rating: I've been using the JavaScript 1.1 version of this book by David Flanagan for years, but it was becoming less and less useful to me as I increasingly needed to look up new additions to the language that were missing from the older 1.1 book.
I took the plunge and purchased the new 5th edition of the book. Flanagan still only provides mediocre examples, like when he explains parseInt() he only shows integer arguments so it's no big surprise that he gets back integers. It would be much better, say, if he showed how parseInt(2.5) returns 2 so it really can't be used to validate that the input argument is an integer.
My boss has the "JavaScript Bible 6th Edition" by Goodman, but that book merely teaches the language, if you have that kind of time. You can't really look things up in that book. Where this book by Flanagan excels is in its reference, but I hate the new arrangement. Flanagan provided an A to Z reference in the 1.1 book, but not any more.
I nicked this review down a star because Flanagan now groups content in the reference by whether it applies to what he calls "core JavaScript" vs. "client JavaScript". Who cares? Speaking as a developer who jumps among multiple languages -- JavaScript, CSS, DHTML, HTML, LotusScript, @formula language, Java -- to support several web applications, when I need to look something up in JavaScript, I just want an alphabetical reference.
I don't really care if something is "DOM Level 1 Core JavaScript". I don't even know what the heck that means! I'm not a JavaScript purist. JavaScript is just one of the tools I employ. Flanagan needs to realize that his technical books are not novels, we don't read them from start to finish.
Despite my frustrations with the book, it's still a worthwhile purchase, I don't regret it. |
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