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Glossary of Terms
This is a list of commonly used terms
Browser: A program used to decode HTML into a graphical format. The most widely-supported browsers available are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.Browser Incomapatibility: Some portions of Javascript code may be incompatible with certain browsers. This would be the case if the browser is fairly old, and some code that normally works using Microsoft Internet Explorer may not work using Netscape Navigator, and vice-versa. It is recommended when builiding a web page to check the code in both formats.
Client-side: The data is sent from the server computer to the client computer, and the client does most of the processing work.
Document Object Model: Mechanism whereby page elements (or document objets) are opened to scripting languages. This includes enviromental information such as current date and time, browser properties, window properties, and HTML elements.
Event: A function which is called by the user, normally in the form of entering input, clicking a button, or moving the mouse. Some events available to JavaScript are onClick, onMouseover, onLoad, onUnload, onFocus, and onBlur.
Event Handler: A function used by Javascript used to invoke an event, such as onClick or onMouseOver.
Function: A group of instructions that performs a task when invoked. Javascript functions may or may not return any values.
Javascript: A scripting language developed by Netscape in order to develop more interactive web pages
Java: A programming language which is completely separate from Javascript also designed to develop more interactive web pages by Sun Microsystems. Java code must be compiled before it is added to a web page, unlike Javascript.
Method: A function which is associated with a particular object. For example, objectName.methodName(arguments...) calls a method of objectName to perform a given task.
Object Oriented Progrgamming: A style of programming which uses objects, which are groups of properties and functions associated with one sort of data type, to organize data.
Pop-up Window: A separate window that appears on screen, designed usually to grab the user's attention.
Server-side: Most of the processing work is done by the server computer, then the data is sent to the client computer.
Scrolling: The movement of text or graphics from one end of a screen to another.
Version: The edition of Javascript which is being used. The most recent version of Javascript is v1.2
