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Introduction To Javascript What Is Javascript?
Introduction To Javascript What Is Javascript?
Introduction To Javascript What Is Javascript?
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)
Are Java and JavaScript the Same?
NO! Java and JavaScript are two completely different languages in both concept and design!
Java (developed by Sun Microsystems) is a powerful and much more complex programming
language - in the same category as C and C++.
What can a JavaScript Do?
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 will save 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
JavaScript can be used to create cookies - A JavaScript can be used to store and retrieve
information on the visitor's computer
JavaScript How To ...
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>
The code above will produce this output on an HTML page:
Hello World!
Example Explained
To insert a JavaScript into an HTML page, we use the <script> tag (also use the type attribute
to define the scripting language).
So, the <script type="text/javascript"> and </script> tells where the JavaScript starts and
ends:
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
...
</script>
</body>
</html>
The word document. write is a standard JavaScript command for writing output to a page. By
entering the document. write command between the <script type="text/javascript"> and
</script> tags, the browser will recognize it as a JavaScript command and execute the code
line. In this case the browser will write Hello World! to the page:
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write("Hello World!")
</script>
</body>
</html>
Note: If we had not entered the <script> tag, the browser would have treated the
document.write("Hello World!") command as pure text, and just write the entire line on the
page.
Ending Statements With a Semicolon?
With traditional programming languages, like C++ and Java, each code statement has to end
with a semicolon.Many programmers continue this habit when writing JavaScript, but in
general, semicolons are optional! However, semicolons are required if you want to put more
than one statement on a single line.
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.
JavaScript Where To ...
JavaScripts in the body section will be executed WHILE the page loads.
JavaScripts in the head section will be executed when CALLED.
Where to Put the JavaScript
JavaScripts in a page will be executed immediately while the page loads into the browser. This
is not always what we want. Sometimes we want to execute a script when a page loads, other
times when a user triggers an event.
Scripts in the head section: Scripts to be executed when they are called, or when an event is
triggered, go in the head section. When you place a script in the head section, you will ensure
that the script is loaded before anyone uses it.
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
....
</script>
</head>
Scripts in the body section: Scripts to be executed when the page loads go in the body
section. When you place a script in the body section it generates the content of the page.
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
....
</script>
</body>
Scripts in both the body and the head section: You can place an unlimited number of scripts in
your document, so you can have scripts in both the body and the head section.
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
....
</script>
</head>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
....
</script>
</body>
Using an External JavaScript
Sometimes you might want to run the same JavaScript on several pages, without having to
write the same script on every page.To simplify this, you can write a JavaScript in an external
file. Save the external JavaScript file with a .js file extension.
Note: The external script cannot contain the <script> tag! To use the external script, point to
the .js file in the "src" attribute of the <script> tag:
<html>
<head>
<script src="xxx.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>
Note: Remember to place the script exactly where you normally would write the script!
JavaScript Variables
A variable is a "container" for information you want to store.
Variables
A variable is a "container" for information you want to store. A variable's value can change
during the script. You can refer to a variable by name to see its value or to change its value.
Rules for variable names:
Variable names are case sensitive.They must begin with a letter or the underscore character.
IMPORTANT! JavaScript is case-sensitive! A variable named strname is not the same as a
variable named STRNAME!
Declare a Variable
You can create a variable with the var statement:
var strname = some value
You can also create a variable without the var statement:
strname = some value
Assign a Value to a Variable
You can assign a value to a variable like this:
var strname = "Hege"
Or like this:
strname = "Hege"
The variable name is on the left side of the expression and the value you want to assign to the
variable is on the right. Now the variable "strname" has the value "Hege".
Lifetime of Variables
When you declare a variable within a function, the variable can only be accessed within that
function. When you exit the function, the variable is destroyed. These variables are called local
variables. You can have local variables with the same name in different functions, because
each is recognized only by the function in which it is declared.
If you declare a variable outside a function, all the functions on your page can access it. The
lifetime of these variables starts when they are declared, and ends when the page is closed.
JavaScript If...Else Statements
Conditional statements in JavaScript are used to perform different actions based on different
conditions.
Conditional Statements
Very often when you write code, you want to perform different actions for different decisions.
You can use conditional statements in your code to do this.
In JavaScript we have the following conditional statements:
if statement - use this statement if you want to execute some code only if a specified
condition is true
if...else statement - use this statement if you want to execute some code if the condition is
true and another code if the condition is false
if...else if....else statement - use this statement if you want to select one of many blocks of
code to be executed
switch statement - use this statement if you want to select one of many blocks of code to be
executed
If Statement
You should use the if statement if you want to execute some code only if a specified condition
is true.
Syntax
if (condition)
{
code to be executed if condition is true
}
Note that if is written in lowercase letters. Using uppercase letters (IF) will generate a
JavaScript error!
Example 1
<script type="text/javascript">
//Write a "Good morning" greeting if
//the time is less than 10
var d=new Date()
var time=d.getHours()
if (time<10)
{
document.write("<b>Good morning</b>")
}
</script>
Example 2
<script type="text/javascript">
//Write "Lunch-time!" if the time is 11
var d=new Date()
var time=d.getHours()
if (time==11)
{
document.write("<b>Lunch-time!</b>")
}
</script>
Note: When comparing variables you must always use two equals signs next to each other
(==)!
Notice that there is no ..else.. in this syntax. You just tell the code to execute some code only
if the specified condition is true.
If...else Statement
If you want to execute some code if a condition is true and another code if the condition is not
true, use the if....else statement.
Syntax
if (condition)
{
code to be executed if condition is true
}
else
{
code to be executed if condition is not true
}
Example
<script type="text/javascript">
//If the time is less than 10,
//you will get a "Good morning" greeting.
//Otherwise you will get a "Good day" greeting.
var d = new Date()
var time = d.getHours()
JavaScript Operators
Arithmetic Operators
Operator Description Example Result
+ Addition x=2 4
y=2
x+y
- Subtraction x=5 3
y=2
x-y
* Multiplication x=5 20
y=4
x*y
/ Division 15/5 3
5/2 2.5
% Modulus (division remainder) 5%2 1
10%8 2
10%2 0
++ Increment x=5 x=6
x++
-- Decrement x=5 x=4
x--
Assignment Operators
Operator Example Is The Same As
= x=y x=y
+= x+=y x=x+y
-= x-=y x=x-y
*= x*=y x=x*y
/= x/=y x=x/y
%= x%=y x=x%y
Comparison Operators
Operator Description Example
== is equal to 5==8 returns false
=== is equal to (checks for both value and type) x=5
y="5"
x==y returns true
x===y returns false
!= is not equal 5!=8 returns true
> is greater than 5>8 returns false
< is less than 5<8 returns true
>= is greater than or equal to 5>=8 returns false
<= is less than or equal to 5<=8 returns true
Logical Operators
Operator Description Example
&& and x=6
y=3
(x < 10 && y > 1) returns true
|| or x=6
y=3
(x==5 || y==5) returns false
! not x=6
y=3
!(x==y) returns true
String Operator
A string is most often text, for example "Hello World!". To stick two or more string variables
together, use the + operator.
txt1="What a very"
txt2="nice day!"
txt3=txt1+txt2
The variable txt3 now contains "What a verynice day!".
To add a space between two string variables, insert a space into the expression, OR in one of
the strings.
txt1="What a very"
txt2="nice day!"
txt3=txt1+" "+txt2
or
txt1="What a very "
txt2="nice day!"
txt3=txt1+txt2
The variable txt3 now contains "What a very nice day!".
Conditional Operator
JavaScript also contains a conditional operator that assigns a value to a variable based on
some condition.
Syntax
variablename=(condition)?value1:value2
Example
greeting=(visitor=="PRES")?"Dear President ":"Dear "
If the variable visitor is equal to PRES, then put the string "Dear President " in the variable
named greeting. If the variable visitor is not equal to PRES, then put the string "Dear " into
the variable named greeting.
Confirm Box
A confirm box is often used if you want the user to verify or accept something.When a confirm
box pops up, the user will have to click either "OK" or "Cancel" to proceed.If the user clicks
"OK", the box returns true. If the user clicks "Cancel", the box returns false.Syntax:
confirm("sometext")
Prompt Box
A prompt box is often used if you want the user to input a value before entering a page.
When a prompt box pops up, the user will have to click either "OK" or "Cancel" to proceed
after entering an input value.
If the user clicks "OK" the box returns the input value. If the user clicks "Cancel" the box
returns null.
Syntax:
prompt("sometext","defaultvalue")
JavaScript Functions
A function is a reusable code-block that will be executed by an event, or when the function is
called.
Examples
Function
How to call a function.
Function with arguments
How to pass a variable to a function, and use the variable in the function.
Function with arguments 2
How to pass variables to a function, and use these variables in the function.
Function that returns a value
How to let the function return a value.
A function with arguments, that returns a value
How to let the function find the sum of 2 arguments and return the result.
JavaScript Functions
To keep the browser from executing a script as soon as the page is loaded, you can write your
script as a function.A function contains some code that will be executed only by an event or by
a call to that function.You may call a function from anywhere within the page (or even from
other pages if the function is embedded in an external .js file).Functions are defined at the
beginning of a page, in the <head> section.
Example
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
function displaymessage()
{
alert("Hello World!")
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form>
<input type="button" value="Click me!"
onclick="displaymessage()" >
</form>
</body>
</html>
If the line: alert("Hello world!!"), in the example above had not been written within a function,
it would have been executed as soon as the line was loaded. Now, the script is not executed
before the user hits the button. We have added an onClick event to the button that will
execute the function displaymessage() when the button is clicked.
You will learn more about JavaScript events in the JS Events chapter.
Loops in JavaScript are used to execute the same block of code a specified number of times or
while a specified condition is true.
Examples
For loop
How to write a for loop. Use a For loop to run the same block of code a specified number of
times.
Looping through HTML headers
How to use the for loop to loop through the different HTML headers.
While loop
How to write a while loop. Use a while loop to run the same block of code while a specified
condition is true.
Do while loop
How to write a do...while loop. Use a do...while loop to run the same block of code while a
specified condition is true. This loop will always be executed once, even if the condition is
false, because the statements are executed before the condition is tested.
JavaScript Loops:Very often when you write code, you want the same block of code to run
over and over again in a row. Instead of adding several almost equal lines in a script we can
use loops to perform a task like this.
In JavaScript there is two different kind of loops:
for - loops through a block of code a specified number of times
while - loops through a block of code while a specified condition is true
JavaScript Events
Events are actions that can be detected by JavaScript.
Events
By using JavaScript, we have the ability to create dynamic web pages. Events are actions that
can be detected by JavaScript.Every element on a web page has certain events which can
trigger JavaScript functions. For example, we can use the onClick event of a button element to
indicate that a function will run when a user clicks on the button. We define the events in the
HTML tags.
Examples of events:
A mouse click,A web page or an image loading ,Mousing over a hot spot on the web page
Selecting an input box in an HTML form, Submitting an HTML form, A keystroke .
The following table lists the events recognized by JavaScript:
Note: Events are normally used in combination with functions, and the function will not be
executed before the event occurs!
onload and onUnload
The onload and onUnload events are triggered when the user enters or leaves the page.The
onload event is often used to check the visitor's browser type and browser version, and load
the proper version of the web page based on the information.Both the onload and onUnload
events are also often used to deal with cookies that should be set when a user enters or
leaves a page. For example, you could have a popup asking for the user's name upon his first
arrival to your page. The name is then stored in a cookie. Next time the visitor arrives at your
page, you could have another popup saying something like: "Welcome John Doe!".
onFocus, onBlur and onChange
The onFocus, onBlur and onChange events are often used in combination with validation of
form fields.Below is an example of how to use the onChange event. The checkEmail() function
will be called whenever the user changes the content of the field:
<input type="text" size="30"
id="email" onchange="checkEmail()">;
onSubmit
The onSubmit event is used to validate ALL form fields before submitting it.Below is an
example of how to use the onSubmit event. The checkForm() function will be called when the
user clicks the submit button in the form. If the field values are not accepted, the submit
should be cancelled. The function checkForm() returns either true or false. If it returns true
the form will be submitted, otherwise the submit will be cancelled:
<form method="post" action="xxx.htm"
onsubmit="return checkForm()">
Methods
Methods are the actions that can be performed on objects.In the following example we are
using the toUpperCase() method of the String object to display a text in uppercase letters:
<script type="text/javascript">
var str="Hello world!"
document.write(str.toUpperCase())
</script>
The output of the code above will be:
HELLO WORLD!
Manipulate Dates
We can easily manipulate the date by using the methods available for the Date object.
In the example below we set a Date object to a specific date (14th January 2010):
var myDate=new Date()
myDate.setFullYear(2010,0,14)
And in the following example we set a Date object to be 5 days into the future:
var myDate=new Date()
myDate.setDate(myDate.getDate()+5)
Note: If adding five days to a date shifts the month or year, the changes are handled
automatically by the Date object itself!
Comparing Dates
The Date object is also used to compare two dates.
The following example compares today's date with the 14th January 2010:
var myDate=new Date()
myDate.setFullYear(2010,0,14)
var today = new Date()
if (myDate>today)
alert("Today is before 14th January 2010")
else
alert("Today is after 14th January 2010")
Mathematical Methods
In addition to the mathematical values that can be accessed from the Math object there are
also several functions (methods) available.
Examples of functions (methods):
The following example uses the round() method of the Math object to round a number to the
nearest integer:
document.write(Math.round(4.7))
The code above will result in the following output:
5
The following example uses the random() method of the Math object to return a random
number between 0 and 1:
document.write(Math.random())
The code above can result in the following output:
0.7058081982908116
The following example uses the floor() and random() methods of the Math object to return a
random number between 0 and 10:
document.write(Math.floor(Math.random()*11))
The code above can result in the following output:
4
JavaScript Cookies
A cookie is often used to identify a user.
Examples
Create a welcome cookie
What is a Cookie?
A cookie is a variable that is stored on the visitor's computer. Each time the same computer
requests a page with a browser, it will send the cookie too. With JavaScript, you can both
create and retrieve cookie values.
Examples of cookies:
Name cookie - The first time a visitor arrives to your web page, he or she must fill in her/his
name. The name is then stored in a cookie. Next time the visitor arrives at your page, he or
she could get a welcome message like "Welcome John Doe!" The name is retrieved from the
stored cookie
Password cookie - The first time a visitor arrives to your web page, he or she must fill in a
password. The password is then stored in a cookie. Next time the visitor arrives at your page,
the password is retrieved from the cookie
Date cookie - The first time a visitor arrives to your web page, the current date is stored in a
cookie. Next time the visitor arrives at your page, he or she could get a message like "Your
last visit was on Tuesday August 11, 2005!" The date is retrieved from the stored cookie
Required Fields
The function below checks if a required field has been left empty. If the required field is blank,
an alert box alerts a message and the function returns false. If a value is entered, the function
returns true (means that data is OK):
function validate_required(field,alerttxt)
{
with (field)
{
if (value==null||value=="")
{alert(alerttxt);return false}
else {return true}
}
}
The entire script, with the HTML form could look something like this:
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
function validate_required(field,alerttxt)
{
with (field)
{
if (value==null||value=="")
{alert(alerttxt);return false}
else {return true}
}
}
function validate_form(thisform)
{
with (thisform)
{
if (validate_required(email,"Email must be filled out!")==false)
{email.focus();return false}
}
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form action="submitpage.htm"
onsubmit="return validate_form(this)"
method="post">
Email: <input type="text" name="email" size="30">
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>
</body>
</html>
E-mail Validation
The function below checks if the content has the general syntax of an email.
This means that the input data must contain at least an @ sign and a dot (.). Also, the @ must
not be the first character of the email address, and the last dot must at least be one character
after the @ sign:
function validate_email(field,alerttxt)
{
with (field)
{
apos=value.indexOf("@")
dotpos=value.lastIndexOf(".")
if (apos<1||dotpos-apos<2)
{alert(alerttxt);return false}
else {return true}
}
}
The entire script, with the HTML form could look something like this:
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
function validate_email(field,alerttxt)
{
with (field)
{
apos=value.indexOf("@")
dotpos=value.lastIndexOf(".")
if (apos<1||dotpos-apos<2)
{alert(alerttxt);return false}
else {return true}
}
}
function validate_form(thisform)
{
with (thisform)
{
if (validate_email(email,"Not a valid e-mail address!")==false)
{email.focus();return false}
}
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form action="submitpage.htm"
onsubmit="return validate_form(this)"
method="post">
Email: <input type="text" name="email" size="30">
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>
</body>
</html>
JavaScript Animation
With JavaScript we can create animated images.
Examples
Button animation
JavaScript Animation
It is possible to use JavaScript to create animated images.The trick is to let a JavaScript
change between different images on different events.
In the following example we will add an image that should act as a link button on a web page.
We will then add an onMouseOver event and an onMouseOut event that will run two JavaScript
functions that will change between the images.
The HTML Code
The HTML code looks like this:
<a href="http://www.w3schools.com" target="_blank"
onmouseOver="mouseOver()"
onmouseOut="mouseOut()">
<img border="0" alt="Visit W3Schools!"
src="b_pink.gif" name="b1" />
</a>
The onMouseOver event tells the browser that once a mouse is rolled over the image, the
browser should execute a function that will replace the image with another image.
The onMouseOut event tells the browser that once a mouse is rolled away from the image,
another JavaScript function should be executed. This function will insert the original image
again.
IMPORTANT! The mouse events are added to the <a> tag, and not to the <img> tag.
Unfortunately, browsers do not support mouse events on images!
The JavaScript Code:The changing between the images is done with the following
JavaScript:
<script type="text/javascript">
function mouseOver()
{
document.b1.src ="b_blue.gif"
}
function mouseOut()
{
document.b1.src ="b_pink.gif"
}
</script>
The function mouseOver() causes the image to shift to "b_blue.gif".
The function mouseOut() causes the image to shift to "b_pink.gif".
The Entire Code
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
function mouseOver()
{
document.b1.src ="b_blue.gif"
}
function mouseOut()
{
document.b1.src ="b_pink.gif"
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<a href="http://www.w3schools.com" target="_blank"
onmouseOver="mouseOver()"
onmouseOut="mouseOut()">
<img border="0" alt="Visit W3Schools!"
src="b_pink.gif" name="b1" />
</a>
</body>
</html>
<p id="desc"></p>
</body>
</html>
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
var c=0
var t
function timedCount()
{
document.getElementById('txt').value=c
c=c+1
t=setTimeout("timedCount()",1000)
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form>
<input type="button" value="Start count!"
onClick="timedCount()">
<input type="text" id="txt">
</form>
</body>
</html>
clearTimeout()
Syntax
clearTimeout(setTimeout_variable)
Example
The example below is the same as the "Infinite Loop" example above. The only difference is
that we have now added a "Stop Count!" button that stops the timer:
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
var c=0
var t
function timedCount()
{
document.getElementById('txt').value=c
c=c+1
t=setTimeout("timedCount()",1000)
}
function stopCount()
{
clearTimeout(t)
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form>
<input type="button" value="Start count!"
onClick="timedCount()">
<input type="text" id="txt">
<input type="button" value="Stop count!"
onClick="stopCount()">
</form>
</body>
</html>