Difference between revisions of "JavaScript"

Revision as of 19:10, August 2, 2010

JavaScript is a programming language used for web development. While it is primarily used as a scripting language, it has some object-oriented features.^[1] It is used only for client-side programming; for a good server-side language, see PHP. In a web browser, JavaScript has access to the content of HTML documents.^[2]

Arrays

JavaScript doesn't have the same kind of arrays as Java; this is one of the differences between the two languages. In JavaScript, the standard array notation is used, but internally data is stored in a hash table.

Visibility of class members

There are two sets of variables associated with any object you define in JavaScript. The first set of variables defined with the this keyword, are all public. The second set of variables, defined with the var keyword, are private. You can even use the same name for a public and private variable, and JavaScript can tell them apart.

Accessing public and private variables

Use regular dot notation to get the public variables of an object

• shape.size

Within class functions, use this to get a public variable, and omit to get a private variable!

Example Code

The following example can be used to disable a form button, for example, to prevent double-posting on a forum.

// Following code licensed CC-SA

function ref(object)
{
    if (document.getElementById) { return document.getElementById(object); }
    else if (document.all) { return eval('document.all.' + object); }
    else { return false; }
}


function setButton(btnObject)
{
    if ( document.post.btnName && document.post.btnValue )
    {
        document.post.btnName.value = btnObject.name;
        document.post.btnValue.value = btnObject.value;
    }
    else if ( document.all.btnName && document.all.btnValue )
    {
        document.all.btnName.value = btnObject.name;
        document.all.btnValue.value = btnObject.value;
    }

    var postForm = ref('post');
    postForm.submit();
    return true;
}

To make use of this function, add it to the JavaScript used by your form, and then add the following to the button you wish to disable:

onClick="setButton(this);"

Notes

1. ↑ Object Oriented Programming in JavaScript - Mike Koss
2. ↑ David Flanagan, Javascript: The definitive guide, page 6

External Links

Javascript Tutorial