JavaScript - Interactivity with Web Pages

JavaScript is an untyped interpreted programming language which was first introduced in 1995 with Netscape 2.0. It was designed by Brendan Eich to help control the web browsers content and allow executable content to be included into web pages.

Before JavaScript was developed, web pages were just static HTML which meant that there was a constant state text file that did not change. Information could not be extracted from the webpage so there was no interactivity between the user and the webpage. But JavaScript allowed the web page to take the users information when entered into the HTML form and process it. Basically JavaScript has helped control the browser, allowed the user to interact with the webpage and dynamically create HTML content.

JavaScript also works alongside DOM (document object model) which creates objects on the web page. JavaScript controls these objects. There is client side and server side JavaScript. This makes it easier to allow a programmer to write in one language rather than having to learn other languages.

JavaScript resembles other programming languages like C, C++, BASIC and Java. Many people think that JavaScript is an extension of Java but JavaScript was originally called LiveScript and was changed to JavaScript last minute as a marketing ploy to raise awareness. Java is in fact very different from JavaScript although they work very well together. JavaScript can control the browser and content but can not draw graphics. Java on the other-hand can draw graphics superbly but can not control the browser.

For a more detailed description, please visit:

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/J/JavaScript.html


Source: Flanagan, D, JavaScript, The Definitive Guide, (2002) Fourth Edition, O’Reilly.