Preface

This book explores JavaScript for what it is: a highly expressive and flexible prototype-based object-oriented programming language. Once dismissed as a toy for designers to make things such as rollover buttons, today this interesting and unique language is back, stronger than ever. Today's Web 2.0 world of AJAX, fat-client programming, desktop-like rich Internet applications, drag-and-drop maps and webmail clients, rely heavily on JavaScript to provide a highly interactive user experience. And if we never had the chance to properly explore JavaScript before, now is the time to sit down and (re-)learn it.

This book doesn't assume any prior knowledge of JavaScript and works from the ground up to give you a thorough understanding of the language.