This five-part tutorial aims to get you writing useful JavaScripts immediately. And not just silly JavaScripts — this tutorial will teach you how to build the browser of your dreams. As we go through the examples in the course, you will build a fancier and fancier browser that you can tweak to your heart's content. Tweaking is the Webmonkey way, after all.
Here's a brief outline of what you will learn each day, with an example of what you'll be able to do by the end of that lesson.
- Day 1: Introductions, some examples, and your first JavaScript (example)
- Day 2: Variables, if-then branching, link events, and image swaps
- Day 3: Windows, frames, and the Document Object Model
- Day 4: Loops, arrays, and functions
- Day 5: Forms, forms, and more forms
Before we jump in, here are few important things to note about JavaScript and this tutorial.
First, JavaScript is not
Java.
Second, sometimes JavaScript isn't JavaScript! It turns out that different browsers deal with JavaScript differently. In fact, different versions of the same browser handle JavaScript differently. So always double-check your JavaScripted pages on as many different browsers (or even platforms) as possible.
Third, this tutorial is not a substitute for a good reference book. JavaScript is very rich, and although you'll learn most of the grammar of JavaScript here, you won't learn the entire language. So, if you like what you've learned here and are serious about writing your own JavaScripts, go out and get a book. Whatever book you get should have an extensive reference section.
Fourth, view source! The best way to learn JavaScript is to look at scripts other people have written.
JavaScript, just like HTML, can be viewed by selecting View Source on your browser. Do it frequently!
Finally, as with HTML, the best way to learn JavaScript is to experiment freely and often. At several places in this tutorial, you'll be given the opportunity to try things out. Don't be afraid to expand beyond the exercise to try new things.
All right, enough with the disclaimers. Let's write some JavaScript.
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