JavaScript: The Definitive Guide (Nutshell Handbooks) [Paperback]

David Flanagan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1565922344 | ISBN-13: 978-1565922341 | Publication Date: January 8, 1997 | Edition: Second Edition

JavaScript is a simple programming language from Netscape that can be embedded in your HTML web pages. It allows you to control the behavior of the web browser, add dynamically created text to your web pages, interact with the user through HTML forms (without CGI scripts), and, in version 3.0 of Netscape Navigator, even control and interact with Java applets and Navigator plugins. JavaScript is not an alternative to Java, but an ideal partner. The two languages have separate but very complementary features. Since JavaScript is a simple language that can be embedded directly into a web page, without need for compilation, it is accessible to more web page authors, and may actually have a larger short-term impact on the Web and on Internet computing than Java itself. This book is a definitive guide for JavaScript. The first eight chapters document the core JavaScript language, and the next six describe how JavaScript works on the client side to interact with the web browser and with the web page. These chapters are followed by a complete reference section that documents every object, property, method, event handler, function, and constructor used by client-side JavaScript. This book also covers the use of JavaScript on web servers, as well as the object, properties, and methods of server-side JavaScript. A separate reference section documents the interaction between JavaScript and HTML -- mainly aspects of HTML that relate to JavaScript.

The book describes the version of JavaScript shipped with Navigator 2.0, 2.0.1, and 2.0.2, and also the much-changed version of JavaScript shipped with Navigator 3.0, 3.0.1, and 3.0.2. It also covers LiveConnect, used for communication between JavaScript and Java applets, and commonly encountered bugs on JavaScript objects.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In typical O'Reilly & Associates fashion, this book documents every nuance of the JavaScript 1.1 language specification. It may appear dry on the surface (many pages have the spare style of UNIX online documentation), but this is the book you'll pull off your shelf when you want to know which method returns the primitive value of an object. Flanagan's book comes out ahead of its competitors in a few other areas, too. JavaScript features a useful discussion of the limited JavaScript support found in Microsoft Internet Explorer and provides excellent documentation of LiveConnect, the software that allows JavaScript to communicate with Java applets. It also offers a taste of what's in store for the just-released JavaScript 1.2.

With a relatively small number of examples and no CD-ROM, this guide is more of a reference than a tutorial. It will serve experienced JavaScript programmers far better than those who are just starting out with the language.

From Library Journal

O'Reilly books have a reputation among programmers for providing some of the best technical information for professionals. No exception, these three web-related books will only enhance O'Reilly's reputation. JavaScript is not Java, but it is very useful because JavaScript code does not need to be compiled and the scripts can be embedded directly into an HTML document. Flanagan's work is an excellent book for programmers interested in learning it quickly. Grand, meanwhile, provides an exceptionally clear discussion of Java itself that is particularly useful for a working programmer moving from C++ to Java. Threads are what makes Java a particularly useful language for multiprocessing?the ability to appear to do more than one thing at a time?which is what the Internet is all about. The tricky part of threads is that the concept is new for most users. Oaks offers a very clear discussion of how to spawn a process, when to spawn, and how to synchronize and schedule it, all illustrated with good network examples.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 664 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; Second Edition edition (January 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565922344
• ISBN-13: 978-1565922341
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #533,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Flanagan is a computer programmer who has spent much of the last 20 years writing books about programming languages. He now works at Mozilla. David lives with his wife and children in the Pacific Northwest, between the cities of Seattle and Vancouver.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best JavaScript book available., May 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: JavaScript: The Definitive Guide (Nutshell Handbooks) (Paperback)

This is a welcome addition to any web development or interface design library. Unlike so many other books on J(ava)Script this book is authoritative (as of its pub date) and compendious; it is an invaluable reference. Like most O'Reilly books, this one manages far more material in greater detail than the typical bookshelf-bending how-to behemoth in far, far fewer pages.

- The syntax coverage is flawless, at times ruthless, and efficient.

- Flanagan shows how powerful, and genuinely object oriented, JavaScript is--prototypes are typically ignored in other books on the topic, with Nick Heinle's as a notable but incommensurable exception.

- Cross platform issues are handled well. When this book was written the IE/Netscape 4.x object models had not been fully explored and exposed as divergent as they are--no current book fully attacks this topic. Compatibility issues are handled straight back to Navigator 2.0. However, given recent browser developments, we're in need of a third edition (and Opera coverage).

- The examples are clear, eminently useful, and will help out even cookbook coders.

I've spun through at least 7 different books on this topic since 1996: if you're a beginner to programming, or a designer hoping to add to the toolbox, this one might be rough going at first. Once you're comfortable with JavaScript, this is the *only* book you will keep.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The name of the book really means it. THE Definitive guide!, April 1, 2010

By 

Oguz Cakici "tash gibi" (Kansas City, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JavaScript: The Definitive Guide (Nutshell Handbooks) (Paperback)

If you want to deeply understand JavaScript beyond simple day-to-day client side scripting, this is THE BOOK. This book is not for beginner programmers. I would guess, an intermediate level of knowledge in a programming language, preferably C-based, would be essential to keep up with the book's goal.
Flanagan is pleasure to read. This is a slam dunk! And he did it again with The Ruby Programming Language. He deeply understands what he is explaining and does such a good job passing that information. I read this book cover to cover twice, certain chapters multiple times - especially chapters 8 and 9 that covers Functions, Classes, Constructors and Prototypes, and now use it mostly for reference. If you can follow this book and understand all the contents, you can call yourself an advanced JavaScript programmer.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All I need to know., February 5, 2009

By 

Gary N. Walters (Bismarck, ND USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JavaScript: The Definitive Guide (Nutshell Handbooks) (Paperback)

Flanagan has provided me with all I need to know about JS. I have not read the book cover to cover, but refer to it often. The information I have needed has been easy to find and the examples have saved me hours of tinkering. He hasn't failed me yet on JavaScript issues.