The JavaScript Diaries

JavaScript is an interpreted language. It doesn't need to be compiled before it is run. In an interpreted language the instructions are parsed . For instance, as the browser "reads" this page, it breaks down each of the page's components into individual components and interprets each component as it moves down the page. In linguistics it means to divide language into small components that can be analyzed. For example, parsing this sentence would involve dividing it into words and phrases and identifying the type of each component .

It can be used to create menus, validate forms, provide interactive calendars, post the current day's headlines, produce background effects on a Web page, track a visitor's history on your site, and play games, among many other things. That's probably why it's one of the most popular languages on the World Wide Web.
Netscape created JavaScript in 1995. Originally called "LiveScript," it was designed to make Web pages more interactive. In the beginning the language was plagued with security problems which, for the most part, have been overcome. The current version of JavaScript is 1.5.

Because of its usefulness, I've long thought about whether I should learn JavaScript programming or not. One of the main reasons I kept putting it off was the availability of free, existing scripts. 'Why re-invent the wheel?', I kept asking myself. If I could spend a few minutes searching my favorite sites for scripts (such as JavaScript Source and ScriptSearch), why should I spend my time learning how to write them? And so it went on for several years.
Today, there is a lot more that JavaScript can do and as a result, I've decided the time has come to learn it. My intention is not to become a JavaScript guru or programming genius but to be able to write scripts that I can use in my work, and perhaps share with others.

I know that I'm not the only one who feels this way and yet, learning JavaScript seems to be a monumental task. When you look at some of the JavaScripts out there, they can seem pretty intimidating. And that's true with most things that are new. Remember the first time you viewed the source code of an HTML document or took a look at a style sheet? Whoa! I'm sure you felt overwhelmed.

Still, there is only one way to get started; you just do it! To make the process easier, I decided we could do this together.As I study the JavaScript language, I will share what I have learned with you, the reader. Our goal in this study will be to learn how to competently write useful JavaScripts (these installments will be published on a bi-weekly basis).
To give you some some insight into my background, I'm no different than most of you. I'm not a programmer nor do I have any high-level technical degrees. I have learned HTML, XHTML, and a few other things on my own using books, Web sites, existing examples, and by asking questions. That's how many of the people who design Web sites today got their start.
If you have any problems or questions that are beyond my scope of knowledge, you can visit the JavaScript forums over at WebDeveloper.com. They should be able to answer all your questions. In fact, the moderator of the forum is our own Jonathan Fenocchi. He writes a regular column for us here at WebRef.