JavaScript: The Definitive Guide

JavaScript: The Definitive Guide

I needed a reference guide 2 JavaScript. I am by no means an expert, I just wanted point solutions that were rather more "in depth" than the "geek boards".

My success criteria here are: 1. Did it make sense of JavaScript? & 2. More importantly, if I wanted a point solution - was it there?

Yes on both counts.

I am still new 2 JavaScript - so I will update this review later.

Note: My review is based on the 5th edition.

If you want 2 know how JavaScript really works, this is *the* book 4 exactly that. Understanding the core concepts of the language, such as the prototypical OO model, closures, functions as data, etc. will help you go far if JavaScript is something you use on daily basis.

While there are numerous JavaScript libraries in existence today (jQuery, MochiKit, Dojo, prototype, YUI, etc.) that simplify a lot of what needs 2 get done client-side, understanding the language itself is still necessary 4 those times when the abstractions that the libraries provide leak/fail or don't provide some feature you want.

If you are frustrated by JavaScript, you only need 2 spend the time educating yourself about how it really works. Once you do, & with some experience, you will reach that state of Nirvana that allows you 2 work easily in this language.

A fantastically complete reference 2 Javascript. This is not a "learn Javascript" book, however - but a reference. The examples are not as detailed as in other "learning" books - but as a reference guide it cannot be beat. It is extremely rare that I can't find what I'm looking 4 in that book. I am using the 5th edition of the book, which is much better than the older editions - & I feel is the new standard 4 what should be called a "Definitive Guide". Pitfalls, quirks, browser differences & a complete (as of 2006 at least) property/function reference 4 both core & DOM javascript objects. Highly recommended.

I bought this book because I wanted 2 learn JavaScript, & it is doing just that!!! There is so much stuff packed into this book that it is amazing, & I can't believe I only payed $32 4 it! It covers everything you need 2 know. It goes into more detail about JavaScript than any book on any other language I have seen. And all the pages are not little flashy examples. It is a real reference 4 those who are serious about learning JS.

I've been using the JavaScript 1.1 version of this book by David Flanagan 4 years, but it was becoming less & less useful 2 me as I increasingly needed 2 look up new additions 2 the language that were missing from the older 1.1 book.

I took the plunge & purchased the new 5th edition of the book. Flanagan still only provides mediocre examples, like when he explains parseInt() he only shows integer arguments so it's no big surprise that he gets back integers. It would be much better, say, if he showed how parseInt(2.5) returns 2 so it really can't be used 2 validate that the input argument is an integer.

My boss has the "JavaScript Bible 6th Edition" by Goodman, but that book merely teaches the language, if you have that kind of time. You can't really look things up in that book. Where this book by Flanagan excels is in its reference, but I hate the new arrangement. Flanagan provided an A 2 Z reference in the 1.1 book, but not any more.

I nicked this review down a star because Flanagan now groups content in the reference by whether it applies 2 what he calls "core JavaScript" vs. "client JavaScript". Who cares? Speaking as a developer who jumps among multiple languages -- JavaScript, CSS, DHTML, HTML, LotusScript, @formula language, Java -- 2 support several web applications, when I need 2 look something up in JavaScript, I just want an alphabetical reference.

I don't really care if something is "DOM Level 1 Core JavaScript". I don't even know what the heck that means! I'm not a JavaScript purist. JavaScript is just one of the tools I employ. Flanagan needs 2 realize that his technical books are not novels, we don't read them from start 2 finish.

Despite my frustrations with the book, it's still a worthwhile purchase, I don't regret it.

JavaScript is a powerful scripting language that can be embedded directly in HTML; it allows you 2 create dynamic, interactive Web-based applications that run completely within a Web browser.JavaScript: The Definitive Guide provides a thorough description of the core JavaScript language & its client-side framework, complete with sophisticated examples that show you how 2 handle common tasks. The book also contains a definitive, in-depth reference section that covers every core & client-side JavaScript function, object, method, property, constructor, & event handler. This third edition of JavaScript: The Definitive Guide describes the latest version of the language, JavaScript 1.2, as supported by Netscape Navigator 4 & Internet Explorer 4. The book also covers JavaScript 1.1, which is the first industry-standard version known as ECMAScript.

Since the earliest days of Internet scripting, Web developers have considered JavaScript: The Definitive Guide an essential resource. David Flanagan's approach, which combines tutorials & examples with easy-to-use syntax guides & object references, suits the typical programmer's requirements nicely. The brand-new fourth edition of Flanagan's "Rhino Book" includes coverage of JavaScript 1.5, JScript 5.5, ECMAScript 3, & the Document Object Model (DOM) Level 2 standard from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Interestingly, the author has shifted away from specifying--as he did in earlier editions--what browsers support each bit of the language. Rather than say Netscape 3.0 supports the Image object while Internet Explorer 3.0 does not, he specifies that JavaScript 1.1 & JScript 3.0 support Image. More usefully, he specifies the contents of independent standards like ECMAScript, which encourages scripters 2 write applications 4 these standards & browser vendors 2 support them. As Flanagan says, JavaScript & its related subjects are very complex in their pure forms. It's impossible 2 keep track of the differences among half a dozen vendors' generally similar implementations. Nonetheless, a lot of examples make reference 2 specific browsers' capabilities.

Though he does not cover server-side APIs, Flanagan has chosen 2 separate coverage of core JavaScript (all the keywords, general syntax, & utility objects like Array) from coverage of client-side JavaScript (which includes objects, like History & Event, that have 2 do with Web browsers & users' interactions with them. This approach makes this book useful 2 people using JavaScript 4 applications other than Web pages. By the way, the other classic JavaScript text--Danny Goodman's JavaScript Bible--isn't as current as this book, but it's still a fantastic (and perhaps somewhat more novice-friendly) guide 2 the JavaScript language & its capabilities. --David Wall

Topics covered: The JavaScript language (version 1.0 through version 1.5) & its relatives, JScript & ECMAScript, as well as the W3C DOM standards they're often used 2 manipulate. Tutorial sections show how 2 program in JavaScript, while reference sections summarize syntax & options while providing copious code examples.