CS101 Introduction to Computing

Lecture 21
Data Types & Operators
(Web Development Lecture 7)

1
 During the last lecture we had a discussion
on Objects, Properties, Methods
• Everything that JavaScript manipulates, it
treats as an object – e.g. a window or a button

• An object has properties – e.g. a window has

size, position, status, etc.

• An object can be manipulated with methods

that are associated with that object – e.g. a
resize a window with resizeTo(150, 200) 2
 Object: A named collection of properties
(data, state) & methods (instructions, behavior)

A collection
All objects have the
of properties
“name” property: it
& methods
holds the name of
the object (collection)

name method 2
prop 1
prop 3 prop 5
prop 2
method 1 prop 4 method 3
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 Types of Objects
• JavaScript objects
– Objects that are part of JavaScript
– Examples: window, document

• Browser objects
– Objects that contain info not about the
contents of the display, but the browser itself
– Examples: history, navigator

• User-defined object
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Object-Based, Not Object-Oriented!
• JavaScript is not a true object-oriented
language like C++ or Java

• It is so because it lacks two key features:

– A formal inheritance mechanism
– Strong typing

• Nevertheless, JavaScript shares many

similarities with object-oriented languages,
and therefore is called an object-based
language 5
The concept of objects and associated
properties and methods is a very powerful
idea, and we will be talking about it a lot
during this course

However, today, our focus will be on some

of the nitty-gritty details of JavaScript

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 During Today’s Lecture …
• We will find out about JavaScript data types

• About variables and literals

• We will also discuss various operators

supported by JavaScript

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 JavaScript Data Types
• Unlike in C, C++ and Java, there are no explicit
data types in JavaScript
• Nevertheless, it recognizes & distinguishes
among the following types of values:
– Numbers, e.g., 23, 4.3, -230, 4.4e-24
– Booleans, e.g., true, false
– Strings, e.g., “hello”, “What’s the time?”
– Undefined 8
We’ll comeback to these data types,
but before that we have to have to
define a few new terms

First, variables:

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 Variables
• Variables give us the ability to manipulate data
through reference instead of actual value

• Variables are names assigned to values

• Variables are containers that hold values

(Example: Hotel guest name, Guest room no.)

• Generally, the value of a variable varies during

code execution (that is why the term “variable”!)
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 Example
x is a
variable

x = 1;
while (x < 6) {
document.write (x);
x = x + 1;
}
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Try Doing the Same Without Using A Variable
5 lines of code
replacing 5
lines of code!

Why use document.write (“1”);

variables? document.write (“2”);
document.write (“3”);
document.write (“4”);
document.write (“5”);

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Another Situation

x = 1;
while (x < 6000) {
document.write (x);
x = x + 1;
}
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 Declaring Variables
• Many languages require that a variable be
declared (defined) before it is first used

• Although JavaScript allows variable declaration,

it does not require it - except in the case when
we want to declare a variable being local (more
on local variables later in the course!)

• However, it is good programming practice to

declare variables before using them 14
 Declaring Variables

var height

var name, address, phoneNumber

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JavaScript Variables are Dynamically Typed

• Any variable in JavaScript can hold any type of

value, and the that type can change midway
through the program

• This is unlike the case for C, C++ and Java,

where a variable’s type is defined before usage

• The untyped feature makes JavaScript simpler

to program in when developing short programs.
However, this feature brings in a few problems
as well. Can you describe any? 16
JavaScript Variables are Dynamically Typed
After the execution of the 1st
statement, the data type of the
variable “sum” is “undefined”
After the
execution of the
var sum ; 2nd statement,
sum = 43 ; the data type
becomes
sum = “empty” ; “number”

After the execution of the

3rd statement, the data
type changes to “string”
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 Identifiers
• Identifiers are names used by JavaScript to
refer to variables ( as well as objects,
properties, methods, and functions!)

• An identifier must begin with an alphabetical

character (a-z or A-Z) or the underscore “_”
character

• Subsequent characters can be an alphabetical

(a-z or A-B) or numeric character (0-9) or an
underscore 18
 1stStreet

number One

bhola@bholacontinental
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 numberOneUniversity

N99umber_one_University

_5numberoneuniversity

reallyReallyLongIndentifier12345678901234
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 Another Restriction on Identifiers
• Do not use any of the JavaScript keywords as
identifiers

• For example, do not name a variable as “while”.

When the browser sees this term in JavaScript
code, it will get confused as it already knows
this keyword as part of a loop statement. Same
is the case for “var” or “if” or any of the other
keywords.
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JavaScript (Java) Reserved Words
Names that can’t be used for variables, functions, methods, objects
finally byte import throws else
protected goto with default new
abstract static class interface var
float case in transient extends
public if this do null
Boolean super const long void
for catch instanceof true false
return private throw double package
break switch continue native while
function char int try final
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synchronized implements ????
Avoid These Special Names As Well (1)
Names that should not be used for variables, functions, methods, objects
alert Area assign Boolean Checkbox
escape FileUpload Form frames getClass
status Link location MimeType navigate
onunload opener Packages parseFloat Password
setTimeout String sun Text top
Anchor Array blur Button Submit
eval focus Frame Function Hidden
length Location Math name Navigator
open Option parent parseInt Plugin
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JavaPackage taint Textarea toString
Avoid These Special Names As Well (2)
Names that should not be used for variables, functions, methods, objects
close confirm assign Window JavaClass
History Image Form java onfocus
navigator Number location onblur Select
prompt Radio Packages Reset Element
unescape valueOf sun window JavaObject
closed Date blur Document onload
history isNaN Frame JavaArray Self
netscape Object Math onerror untaint
prototype ref parent scroll taint
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defaultStatus clearTimeout document
Identifiers appear in JavaScript
statements

Let us now discuss a few other

elements that appear in those
statements

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Elements of JavaScript Statements

b=2; Identifiers

sum = sum + 49 ; Operators

name = “Bhola” + “ Continental” ; Literals

x = Math.floor ( x ) ; Punctuation
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 JavaScript Literals
• A data value that appears directly in a
statement

• Literals can be of several types. Some

of them are:
1. Number
2. String
3. Boolean
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 Numeric Literals
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-230000000000000000
9.80665
1.67e-27

JavaScript stores all numbers, even

integers, as floating-point numbers
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 String Literals
“”
‘’
‘Bhola’
“Where is the Bhola Continental Hotel?”

String literals are always enclosed in a

matching pair of single or double quotes
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Boolean Literals
true
false

if ( tankFull == false)
addMoreWater = true

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 JavaScript Operators
• Operators operate on operands to achieve the
desired results
• JavaScript has numerous operators, classified
in many categories. We will look at only a few of
them belonging to the following categories:
– Assignment operators -- Arithmetic operators
– Comparison operators -- String operators
– Logical operators

• We’ll look at a few more during future lectures,

but understand that there are many more.
Even you text book does not cover all of them!
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 Assignment Operator “=”
Changes the value of what is on the LHS, w.r.t. what is on the RHS

total_number_of_students = 984 ;

title = “Understanding Computers” ;

swapFlag = false ;

x = y + 33 ;
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 Arithmetic Operators

Multiply 2*4→8
Divide 2 / 4 → 0.5
Modulus 5%2→1
Add 2+4→6
Subtract 2 - 4 → -2
Negate -(5) → -5 33
 Comparison Operators
Not the same as
the assignment
“=” operator
The “equal to (==)” Comparison Operator

if ( today == “Sunday” )
document.write(“The shop is closed”);

The string “The shop is closed” will be written to

the document only if the variable today has a
value equal to “Sunday” 34
 Comparison Operators
a == b True if a and b are the same

a != b True if a and b are not the same

a>b True if a is greater than b

a >= b True if a is greater than or equal to b

a<b True if a is less than b

a <= b True if a is less than or equal 35to b

 Example

if ( x != 0 )
result = y / x;
else
result = “not defined”;

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From comparison operators, now we
move to Logical Operators

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 Logical Operators
Operate on Boolean expressions or variables

The “AND (&&)” Logical Operator

if ( (pitch == “hard”) && (bowler == “fast”) )

myStatus = “Pulled muscle”;

The value of the variable myStatus will be set to

“Pulled muscle” if both of the conditions are true
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 Logical Operators

a && b AND True if both are true

a || b OR True of either or both are true

!a NOT True if a is false

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 Example

if ( x || y )
document.write (“Either or both are true”);
else
document.write (“Both are false”);

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So far we have looked at the assignment
operator, arithmetic operators, comparison
operators and logical operators

The final category that we are going to

look at is string operators

In that category, we look at only one, the

concatenation operator

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 The “+” String Operator

The “+” operator can be used to concatenate two

strings

title = “bhola” + “continental”

The value of the variable title becomes

“bholacontinental” 42
 Semicolon ;
Terminate all JavaScript statements with a
semicolon. It is not always necessary, but
highly recommended.

a = 23 ;
quotient = floor( a / 2) ;
remainder = a % 2 ;

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Elements of JavaScript Statements

b = 2; Identifiers

sum = sum + 49; Operators

name = “Bhola” + “ Continental”; Literals

x = Math.floor ( x ); Punctuation
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Two more elements that are found in
JavaScript statements are white
spaces and line breaks

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 White Spaces & Line Breaks
• White spaces: The space & the tab characters

• JavaScript ignores any extra white spaces or

line breaks that you put in the code

• This gives you the freedom of using them for

making your code appear neat and readable

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while ( x > 0) {
remaind = x % 2;
y = remaind + y;
}

while ( x > 0) {remaind = x % 2; y = remaind + y;}

while ( x > 0) {
remaind = x % 2;
y = remaind + y;
} 47
Now let’s talk about a very special
type of JavaScript statement that
does not really do anything, but is
found in most pieces of code!

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 Comments
• Comments are included on a Web page to
explain how and why you wrote the page the
way you did

• Comments can help someone other than the

author to follow the logic of the page in the
author’s absence

• The commented text is neither displayed in the

browser nor does it have any effect on the
logical performance of the Web page, and is
visible only when the actual code is viewed
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 JavaScript Comments
• Single-line comments (two options)
// Author: Bhola
<!-- Creation Date: 24 March 2003

• Multi-line comments
/* Author: Bhola
Creation Date: 24 March 2003 */
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 HTML Comments

<!-- Author: Bhola

Creation Date: 24 March 2003 -->

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 comments
add clarity!
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 comments let
the code speak
for itself!
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Decimal to Binary Conversion in JavaScript
x = 75 ; // x is the decimal number
y = “” ; // y is the binary equivalent
while ( x > 0) {
remainder = x % 2 ;
quotient = Math.floor( x / 2 ) ;
y = remainder + y ;
x = quotient ;
}
document.write(“y = ” + y) ; 54
 Assignment #7 (1)
Modify the Web page that you built for
assignment #4 so that it has the following
additional interactivity features:

1. When the mouse goes over the “Send

Message” button, the Web page should
check if any of the two fields is empty

2. If a field is found empty, an appropriate alert

message should be shown to the user
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 Assignment #7 (2)
3. The alert must specify the name of the
empty field

4. If none of the fields are empty, and the user

clicks on the “Send Message” button,
display a message thanking the user for
sending you the greeting

Consult the CS101 Web page for submission

instructions & deadline 56
 During Today’s Lecture …
• We found out about JavaScript data types

• About variables and literals

• We also discussed several operators supported

by JavaScript

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 Next (the 8th) Web Dev Lecture:
Flow Control and Loops

• To be able to understand the concept of flow

control using the “if” and “switch” structures

• To be able to understand the concept of

behind the “while” and “for” looping structures

• To be able to solve simple problems using flow

control and loop statements
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