Likewise, a simple typo or even a missing punctuation mark can prevent a JavaScript program from working, or trigger an error in a web browser. When learning to speak a new language, you quickly realize that placing an accent on the wrong syllable can make a word unintelligible. Youâll need to memorize the words and rules of the JavaScript language (or at least keep this book handy as a reference). You need to learn new words, new punctuation, and understand how to put them together so you can communicate successfully.Įvery programming language has its own set of keywords and characters, and its own set of rules for putting those words and characters togetherâthe languageâs syntax. In many ways, learning a programming language is a lot like learning another language.

An average JavaScript program is sprinkled with symbols (, () !=) and full of unfamiliar words ( var, null, else if). Many web designers are immediately struck by the strange symbols and words used in JavaScript. More importantly, youâll learn how to approach a programming task so youâll know exactly what you want to do before you start adding JavaScript to a web page. Throughout this book, youâll learn fundamental programming concepts that apply whether youâre writing JavaScript, ActionScript, or even writing a desktop program using C++. Still, JavaScript is more complex than either HTML or CSS, and programming often is a foreign world to web designers so one goal of this book is to help you think more like a programmer. But many programming concepts arenât difficult to grasp, and as programming languages go, JavaScript is a good first language for someone new to programming. Programming can seem like complex magic thatâs well beyond the average mortal. And, honestly, some programming is like that. For a lot of people, the term âcomputer programmingâ conjures up visions of super-intelligent nerds hunched over keyboards, typing nearly unintelligible gibberish for hours on end.

Online html javascript compiler