JavaScript

Scripting language built into (modern) web browsers.

Originally designed for the Netscape browser, the name "JavaScript" was chosen to associate with the "Java" programming language developed by Sun which, in 1995, was the first real option for making "live" code run over the web. Other than the name, there is no relation between JavaScript and Java. The formal name for JavaScript now is ECMAScript, but as this sounds more like a skin condition than a programming language, the name JavaScript has persisted.

The popularity of "live" web apps based on JavaScript like Google Maps has helped to reduce some of the differences between browsers in their implementation of JavaScript (which made early JavaScript development quite a nightmare). Also, JavaScript frameworks such as ["Prototype"] help to smooth over the remaining differences and other difficulties (such as EventHandling).

Resources

"Core" Documentation from mozilla.org

• Core JavaScript Guide
• Core JavaScript Reference

Online Tutorials

• http://www.w3schools.com/js/default.asp
• http://www.webteacher.com/javascript/
• http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/bridge/1998/res/javascript/javascript-tutorial.html