Introduction

In this exercise you will discover the basics of using the Javascript programming language to build dynamic web pages. You will learn:

• What Dynamic HTML (DHTML) is and what you can do with it;
• How you can use the Javascript language to create dynamic HTML;
• How you can include Javascript in your webpage;
• Some basic uses of Javascript and dynamic HTML.

Note that this will only be a first and very limited introduction to the many possibilities of client--side Javascript...

There are several software tools that can help you create Javascript in HTML web pages: You can use a simple text--editor, but you are advised to use one that is more intelligent, and gives you line numbers, and automatic highlighting of recognised HTML and Javascript keywords. For Linux/MacOSX this could be BBedit, on Windows you can use NotePad++. Or you can use specialised webpage editing software, such as Dreamweaver, or an IDE (Integrated Development Environment), such as WebStorm.

Furthermore, modern web--browsers can provide you with useful error messages, code views of HTML, CSS and Javascript, network traffic monitoring, etc:

• In FireFox use the menu Tools > Web Developer > Toggle Tools
• In Chrome use the menu View > Developer > Developer Tools
• In Internet Explorer 8+: [F12] or menu Developer Tools