Welcome to JavaScript: A Beginner’s Guide! You’re obviously interested in learning JavaScript, but perhaps you’re not sure what you need to know to use it. This module answers some basic questions about what JavaScript is, discusses its advantages and limitations, explains how you can use it to create more dynamic and inviting Web pages, and provides a brief history of the language. | Module 1 Introduction to JavaScript The Goals of This Module Understand the role of text editors in using JavaScript Understand the role of Web browsers in using JavaScript Review which types of text editors and Web browsers are recommended for coding with JavaScript Introduce the JavaScript language Understand how to use HTML with JavaScript 2 JavaScript A Beginner s Guide Welcome to JavaScript A Beginner s Guide You re obviously interested in learning JavaScript but perhaps you re not sure what you need to know to use it. This module answers some basic questions about what JavaScript is discusses its advantages and limitations explains how you can use it to create more dynamic and inviting Web pages and provides a brief history of the language. JavaScript is ubiquitous on the World Wide Web. It can help your pages become more interactive allowing them to react to a viewer s actions or allowing you to have some special effects visual or otherwise on your pages. JavaScript often gets thrown in with Hypertext Markup Language HTML as one of the recommended languages for beginning Web developers whether you build Web sites for business or pleasure . Of course you can build a Web page by using only HTML but JavaScript allows you to add additional features that a static page of HTML can t provide without some sort of scripting or programming help. What You Need to Know Before you begin learning about JavaScript you should have a basic knowledge of the following HTML Text editors Web browsers The different versions ofJavaScript If you have this basic knowledge and most likely you do then you ll do just fine as you work through this book. Knowing another programming scripting language or having previous experience with JavaScript isn t required. This book is a beginner s guide to JavaScript. If you think you don t have enough experience in one of the aforementioned areas a closer look at each one may help you decide what to do. Module 1 Introduction to JavaScript 3 Basic
