Language: JavaScript Essence

The office name of JavaScript is ECMAScript. The syntax looks like Java. Lambda functions are derived from Scheme. Prototype-based features originate from Self. Regular expressions come from Perl.

Core JavaScript

The core is independent of clients, such as browsers. Here I use Rhino Shell to illustrate core elements of JavaScript.

They're not that easy.

You might say they are complicated, but they're also interesting.

Data Types
Variables
Type Conversions
Operators
Objects
Array

Funny function features.

The most valuable things to describe are functions.

Function Declarations
Function Instances
What's this?
Closures
Scope Chains

Functions and objects.

They're about functions again.

Constructors
Prototype Chains
Object Inspections
Class Simulations

JavaScript in Browsers

Not faults of JavaScript. They're problems of browsers.

Enable JavaScript in browsers

Something you must know before stepping on web.

The <script> Tag
Security
Namespaces
Writing a Utility Library

Document Object Model

One tag, one element; one page, one tree.

Level 0 DOM Introduction
W3C DOM Introduction
Finding HTML Elements
Attributes and Properties
Updating the DOM Tree
Writing a DOM Library

Events

Event happens!

Basic Event Model
Event
DOM Level 2 Event Model
Internet Explorer Event Model
Cross-Browser Event Handling
Writing an Event Library

Styles

Enhance a user’s web experience.

Getting and Setting Styles
Element Dimensions
Element Positions
Display, Visibility and Opacity
The className Property
Window Dimensions
Writing a Style Library

Ajax

Does it make JavaScript a big shot?

Asynchronous Request Objects
Making GET Requests
Making POST Requests
Dealing with XML
Dealing with JSON
Using JSONP
Writing an Ajax Library

References

JavaScript: The Good Parts - presented by Doug Crockford
Essential JavaScript & jQuery Design Patterns
JavaScript - Wikipedia
JavaScript Tutorial
XMLHttpRequest
ECMA-262 5th Edition