What is JavaScript?
JavaScript was designed to add interactivity to HTML pages JavaScript is a scripting language A scripting language is a lightweight programming language A JavaScript consists of lines of executable computer code
A JavaScript is usually embedded directly into HTML pages
JavaScript is an interpreted language (means that scripts execute without preliminary compilation) Everyone can use JavaScript without purchasing a license
Why JavaScript?
JavaScript gives HTML designers a programming tool - HTML authors are normally not programmers, but JavaScript is a scripting language with a very simple syntax! Almost anyone can put small "snippets" of code into their HTML pages.
JavaScript can put dynamic text into an HTML page - A JavaScript statement like this: document.write("<h1>" + name + "</h1>") can write a variable text into an HTML page JavaScript can react to events - A JavaScript can be set to execute when something happens, like when a page has finished loading or when a user clicks on an HTML element JavaScript can read and write HTML elements - A JavaScript can read and change the content of an HTML element JavaScript can be used to validate data - A JavaScript can be used to validate form data before it is submitted to a server. This saves the server from extra processing JavaScript can be used to detect the visitor's browser - A JavaScript can be used to detect the visitor's browser, and - depending on the browser - load another page specifically designed for that browser
Note: The HTML <script> tag is used to insert a JavaScript into an HTML page.
How to Put a JavaScript Into an HTML Page
<html> <body> <script type="text/javascript"> document.write("Hello World!") </script> </body> </html>
How to Handle Older Browsers
Browsers that do not support JavaScript will display the script as page content. To prevent them from doing this, we may use the HTML comment tag: <script type="text/javascript"> <! document.write("Hello World!") //--> </script> The two forward slashes at the end of comment line (//) are a JavaScript comment symbol. This prevents the JavaScript compiler from compiling the line.
Where to place the scripts
JavaScripts in the body section will be executed WHILE the page loads. JavaScripts in the head section will be executed when CALLED. Javascript Arithmetic Operator Chart
Operator
+ * / %
English
Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division Modulus
Example
2+4 6-2 5*3 15 / 3 43 % 10
Assignment Operators
Assignment operators are used to assign the values to the variables.
Operator = += -= *= /= %= x=y x+=y x-=y x*=y x/=y x%=y
Example
Example x=y x =x+ y x =x- y x =x* y x =x/ y x =x% y
Comparison Operators
Comparisons are used to check the relationship between variables and/or values. A single equal sign sets a value while a double equal sign (==) compares two values. Comparison operators are used inside conditional statements and evaluate to either true or false.
Operator == Equal To
English
Example x == y
!=
< > <= >=
Not Equal To
Less Than Greater Than Less Than or Equal To Greater Than or Equal To
x != y
x<y x>y x <= y x >= y
Logical Operators
Comparisons are used to check generally two conditions at a time.
Operator &&
Description and
Example x=6 y=3 (x<10 && y>1) returns true x=6 y=3 (x==5 && y==5) returns false !(x==y) returns true
|| !
or not