scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1122094

Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to computer science (68-01) Network design and communication in computer systems (68M10) Theory of programming languages (68N15)

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This book provides a thorough description of the JavaScript programming language, both as a programmer's guide and as a reference manual. JavaScript is a scripting language, simpler than Java, that can be directly embedded in HTML without compilation. It allows the creation of dynamic web pages and enables programming without CGI scripts on the Internet and on intranets. This second edition covers the versions of JavaScript included in Netscape Navigator 2.0 and 3.0, and in Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0. The first chapter gives a quick overview of JavaScript, what JavaScripts are, demonstrates web programming with some real-world JavaScript examples, and explains the many versions of JavaScript. The book is then divided into four major parts. The first ones deals with the core language common to both client-side and server-side implementations of JavaScript. In four chapters, the basic lexical structure of the language, the variables and data types supported by JavaScript, expressions and operators, and the syntax and usage of each of the JavaScript statements are described. The next four chapters deal with the way how functions are defined, invoked, and manipulated in JavaScript, introduce objects, the most important JavaScript data type, describe the creation and usage of arrays, and include more advanced topics not previously covered (such as automatic and explicit data type conversions, by value vs. by reference manipulation of data values). The second part of the book documents client-side JavaScript. The web browser objects that are at the heart of client-side JavaScript are introduced and detailed examples of their use are provided. The various ways in which JavaScript is integrated into web pages for execution on the client side are explained, the order of execution of JavaScript programs and the event-driven programming model. Then, the most central object of client-side JavaScript, the Window object, is discussed, as well as issues related to the Window object, such as the JavaScript name space, variable lifetime, and garbage collection, including specific programming techniques using the Window object. Also, the Navigator, Location, and History objects are documented and usage examples are shown. The Document object is explained and associated programming techniques are dealt with. Furthermore, the use of ``cookies to save state in web programming is illustrated. The Image object is explained and some special graphical effects that can be produced using JavaScript are demonstrated. Next, the Form objects is documented and form element objects that appear within HTML forms. The issue of compatibility in JavaScript programming is then discussed, viz. compatibility between Navigator and Internet Explorer, between different versions of Navigator, and between JavaScript-enabled browsers and browsers that do not support the language. The next chapter explains how JavaScript can be used to interact with Java classes and objects, and even communicate with and control Java applets. It also explains how you can do the reverse -- invoke JavaScript code form Java applets. The final chapter in the second part provides an overview of security issues in JavaScript. It explains the steps taken to plug security holes in Navigator 2.0, and the new ``data tainting security model that is forthcoming with Navigator 4.0. The third part is the reference section of the book. It contains a complete documentation for all JavaScript objects, methods, properties, functions, and event handlers, both for core and client-side JavaScript. The fourth part consists of several appendices which include, e.g., commonly encountered bugs, a list of differences between JavaScript in Navigator and Internet Explorer, or the Netscape specification for Internet ``cookies.

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