JavaScript & Ajax for Dummies

Learn to use these powerful tools together and build Web sites that work

If you want to build Web pages that offer real value to your site's visitors, JavaScript and AJAX are top tools for the job. Even if you're new to Web programming, this book helps you create sites any designer will admire. With easy-to-understand steps and an emphasis on free tools, you'll be able to jump right into building a site using the same techniques as the pros.

• Down to basics — learn your way around JavaScript and choose an editor and test browser

• Manage complexity — use functions, arrays, and objects to create more sophisticated programs

• Page magic — discover how to control what happens on your pages, animate objects, and put pages in motion

• Get beautiful — Use the jQuery User Interface library to add sliders, tabbed interfaces, and custom dialogs to a site

• Come clean with AJAX — build AJAX requests into your programs, use jQuery, and work with AJAX data

Open the book and find:

• How to choose a test browser

• How to discuss string concatenation with a straight face

• Tips for debugging your code

• How to add useful information to a dropdown list

• Why AJAX connections should be asynchronous

• The exciting possibilities of the jQuery library

• How to use the Aptana editor

• Online resources for JavaScript programmers

Andy Harris is a lecturer in computer science at Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis. He was instrumental in developing the university's certificate program in applied computer science and has taught courses in Web development as well as several programming languages.