clix.to/madeincanada

Not to be confused with the programming language Java by Sun. If its Java and Java applets you are looking for please see the Java tutorials. Those of you who opt to do both Java and JavaScript tutorials are going to notice the two have more similarities then just their names. Java is more tightly written and fussier then Javascript as JavaScript is a loosely written language. Don't confuse them they are in fact very different even with the similarities.

Your first step is to learn HTML if you are not literate in HTML please visit our HTML tutorials before attempting to proceed or you will only make your melon ache. In all my tutorials for beginner programmers knowledge of HTML is assumed and expected in order to get you started on learning to think like a programmer and forms the foundation as your first computer language to make learning the rest easier. 

JavaScript was originally designed for  Netscape navigator. Its an object based  language and trademarked by Netscape. Microsoft followed suit and developed Jscript their trademarked clone that was designed for Explorer. The two are extremely similar but each has components the other doesn't to make it attractive for programmers to favour one or the other . Pick me pick me! Virtual politics. My advice is to try when you can to stick to things that are compatible in both Netscape and Explorer whenever you can. 

The Programmer has two options when using JavaScript. You can embed it directly into the HTML or you can link to a .JS file. 

If you are linking externally you would call it up like this in your HTML

<script language="JavaScript" src="lamerssuck.js">
</script>

or to embed the script it would look like this

<script language="JavaScript">
<!--
document.write("Lamers Suck!");
//-->
</script>

How you choose to go about it is really up to you both have their benefits. embedding the file is quick and easy, linking it makes it harder for knobs to rip off your code if you want to protect it. Another advantage to linking to it is that it leaves your HTML easy to navigate through when you are editing instead of crowding in all the JavaScript. I do a little of both depending on my mood and situation. 

If you are going to use JavaScript the best place to start is learning what the different parts mean. Lets go over that now. No you wont fully grasp this if this is your first time learning about JavaScript but read it anyways so we can start to build a foundation here.

Variables	Refer to a changeable value.
Operators	Can be used to  compare values or calculate.
Expressions	A combination of variables, operators, and statements which call up  some result. In English language  this would be the equivalent of  a sentence.
Statements	JavaScript statements may take different forms. You should separate statements with semicolons for sanities sake but you don't have to unless you put more then one statement  on the same line. In the  English equivalent , a statement pulls things together into a paragraph with "sentences" ending in a period (semicolon).
Objects	Objects are a crucial part of JavaScript. they may carry several properties which act like variables reflecting a particular value.
Functions and Methods	A JavaScript function is quite similar to a "procedure" or "subroutine" in other programming languages. A function  performs some action. A method is a function  contained in an object.
scope	When you assign a new variable to a value, you must consider  scope. A variable can be scoped as either Local or Global
Type	JavaScript categorizes data into several possible types. hang on to your melon now here we go.... Numbers Integer and floating-point numbers. Integers can be positive, 0, or negative or in the form of a decimal  ,hexadecimal  and octal  A decimal integer  consists of a series of digits without a leading 0 . A leading 0 on an integer  indicates it is in octal; a leading 0x  implies hexadecimal. Hexadecimal integers can include digits and the letters  a-f. Octals can include only the digits 0-7. A floating-point number can hold  a decimal point, an "e" , which is used as "ten to the power of" in scientific notation or it can hold both an "e" and a decimal at the same time. Booleans  The possible Boolean values are true and false.  Strings Strings are designated by single or double quotation marks. "Lamers Suck !" har har Null  no value at all.  Undefined A value that is undefined is a value held by a variable  before a value has been assigned to it.

Ok that's our introduction and enough for one lesson. stay tuned for more. Well go into more detail on all of these and put them into practice in our subsequent lessons.