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Subject:Re: JavaScript From:Kris Olberg <kjolberg -at- IX -dot- NETCOM -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 4 Nov 1997 21:14:56 -0600
-----Original Message-----
From: David Slonosky <David -dot- Slonosky -at- ITLS -dot- COM>
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU <TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU>
Date: Tuesday, November 04, 1997 11:53 AM
Subject: JavaScript
>What is this? How does it differ from normal Java? And does anyone residing
in
>the GTA know of any courses for beginners?
JavaScript is an interpreted programming language. "Interpreted," as opposed
to "compiled," means that it is read and interpreted at run time instead of
compiled into byte or machine code.
The Big Two Browsers are able to interpret JavaScript, which means that you
can use JavaScript amongst your HTML to accomplish many tasks otherwise not
doable using straight HTML. For example, the easiest way to validate a date
entered on an HTML form is using JavaScript. Data validation with straight
HTML is limited pretty much to the length of data entered; HTML cannot
determine whether the date is a real date. However, JavaScript does this
easily.
Java, on the other hand, is a compiled language. You write the code and then
"compile" it (using a compiler) into byte code, which is read and translated
into machine code by a Java Virtual Machine. The Big Two Browsers also ship
with Java Virtual Machines, which allow us to include Java applets into our
HTML.
One way to view the difference is that JavaScript source code can be
sprinkled amongst HTML. However, Java source code exists in totally separate
files from the HTML and is called with an HTML <APPLET> or <OBJECT> tag.
Java source code is never included in the same file as HTML.
Clear as mud? Let me know if you want me to elaborate on anything.
Regards...Kris
------------------------------
kolberg -at- actamed -dot- com
kris -at- olberg -dot- com
