JavaScript & DHTML Cookbook

Dynamic HTML: The Definitive Reference (2nd Edition)

Cascading Style Sheets: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition

Ajax in Action

JavaScript Bible, Fifth Edition

Java

JavaScript: The Definitive Guide

Format: Paperback
Author: David Flanagan
ReleaseDate: 15 December, 2001
Publisher: O'Reilly Media
Rating:

A programmer's JavaScript reference
Although JavaScript is certainly the web professional's tool of choice for flashy graphics effects without much substance, the language itself is surprisingly substantial. If you've been in web programming for a while, you're undoubtedly familiar with JavaScript, but may have dismissed it as a "toy language" for flashy graphics effects without much substance. I had been meaning to learn more about it for years and tried off and on by looking at example scripts and reading online documentation here and there. I finally decided to break down and buy a book on JavaScript, and I'm glad that it was this one. I can't recommend it highly enough - it's especially targeted at people with programming experience. This book doesn't waste your time with basic constructs or meaningless metaphors; it gets to the point, describes JavaScript, and lets you get on about your business.

As the book itself clarifies, JavaScript itself is just a programming language and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with web browsers per se. However, since virtually all JavaScript programming is done for the purpose of controlling web pages, the author specifically dedicates one third of the book to the core JavaScript language, and another third to a thorough description of the bindings between JavaScript and the browser. (The final third is a well-indexed reference that you'll find indispensable).

Since you're probably most interested in the JavaScript-browser bindings (the core language is fairly well documented online), let me say that this books coverage of it is excellent. It covers the entire history of JavaScript, detailing compatibility issues between Netscape, IE, and Mozilla (all the way back to the very first release of Netscape) and detailing exactly the sorts of uses that JavaScript is typically being put to these days. An example in the section on event handling shows how to implement drag and drop on a web page in JavaScript (bet you didn't know you could do that!) and there's even a lengthy section on the relationship between JavaScript and CSS.

I couldn't be happier with the book - it lived entirely up to my expectations and was well worth the money I spent on it.

Better than a reference


Unfortunately, JavaScript is not like C++ or Java, its implementation depends on the browser, and this book enhances differences between implementations - reading the book help preventing headaches due to the differences between browsers. JavaScript the definitive guide is not only the reference, it is built following a logical pattern, is full of useful tips, warnings and recommendations ; it is made by somebody who is well aware of JS strengths and weakenesses, someone used to programming languages able to find out what is behind this interpreted code.

The "icing on the cake" is the 45 pages intuitive index.
A must-have.

Way out-dated; new edition coming out Aug 2006
Granted, a lot has *not* changed with Javascript, but new techniques and formats have become available. This 4th edition of Javascript was published in 2001 and is by now way out-dated. Luckily, a new edition (5th ed. ) of this book will be available in August 2006. Better hold off your purchase until the new edition. Then this book will deserve 4 stars.