Introduction to

JavaScript
Dr. Ahmad Mustafa
Department of software Engineering
University of Sargodha
Client Side Scripting

CS380 2
What is Javascript?
• a lightweight programming language ("scripting language")
• used to make web pages interactive
• insert dynamic text into HTML (ex: user name)
• react to events (ex: page load user click)
• get information about a user's computer (ex: browser type)
• perform calculations on user's computer (ex: form validation)

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What is JavaScript?
JavaScript is a client-side scripting language used to make web pages
interactive.
It works together with:
• HTML → Structure
• CSS → Styling
• JavaScript → Behavior & Logic
Where JavaScript Runs?
• In browsers like Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari
Also runs on server-side using:
• [Link]
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What is JavaScript?
Origin ECMAScript Interpreted Prototype-based

Originally named The ECMAScript standard JavaScript is an interpreted It uses prototypes for
"LiveScript," it was ensures cross-browser language. Code is inheritance. This differs
renamed JavaScript in compatibility. This ensures executed directly, without from class-based
1995. This rebranding code runs smoothly compilation. inheritance.
helped boost its popularity. everywhere.
History of JavaScript

1995 1
Created by Brendan Eich at Netscape in just 10 days. A rapid
development for a powerful language.
2 Netscape Navigator 2.0
The first browser to support JavaScript. This marked the
beginning of its widespread use.
Interactive Pages 3
Initially designed to make web pages more interactive. It
transformed static pages into dynamic experiences.
4 Complex Development
Evolved into complex application development. It now powers
entire web applications.
Javascript vs Java
• interpreted, not compiled
• more relaxed syntax and rules
• fewer and "looser" data types
• variables don't need to be declared
• errors often silent (few exceptions)
• key construct is the function rather than the class
• "first-class" functions are used in many situations
• contained within a web page and integrates with its HTML/CSS
content

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Core Features of JavaScript
1 Variables
Store data like numbers, text, and objects. These hold values used
throughout your code.

2 Data Types
Includes string, number, boolean, null, undefined, symbol, and object.
Each serves a different purpose.

3 Operators
Perform calculations and comparisons (+, -, *, /, ==, !=). Essential for
logic and math.

4 Control Flow
Use if/else statements and loops (for, while) for decision making.
Dictate the order of execution.
JavaScript in Web Development

DOM Manipulation User Events

Manipulate the DOM (Document Object Model) to change Respond to user events (clicks, mouseovers, form
webpage structure. submissions). Create interactive experiences.

AJAX Interactive UIs

Use AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) for dynamic Creating interactive user interfaces for better UX.
content loading. Update pages without reloads.
JavaScript Frameworks and
Libraries

React Angular [Link]

A UI library by Facebook. A comprehensive A progressive framework,
Uses a component-based framework by Google. easy to learn. Used by
architecture, powering TypeScript-based, and Alibaba and Xiaomi.
sites like Netflix and used in Gmail and Forbes.
Instagram.

jQuery
Simplifies DOM
manipulation and AJAX
calls. A classic library for
web development.
JavaScript Beyond the Browser
[Link]
Run JavaScript on the server-side. Enables back-end development
with JavaScript.

APIs
Build APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). Connect
different software systems.

Electron
Develop desktop applications. VS Code and Slack are built with
Electron.

React Native
Create mobile apps. Build cross-platform applications.
Benefits of Learning JavaScript

High Demand Versatility

A large job market for JavaScript Used in front-end, back-end, and
developers. Many companies need
1 2 mobile development. A wide range of
JavaScript skills. applications.

Continuous Evolution
Large Community
Constantly updated with new 4 3 Extensive resources, libraries, and
features and best practices. Stay
support. Get help when you need it.
current with the latest trends.
Getting Started with JavaScript

1 Developer Console

2 Text Editor

3 Online Resources

Start with your web browser's developer console to experiment. Use a text editor + browser to write and run JavaScript files.
Use online resources to learn. Practice, practice, practice by building small projects.
Variables and Data
Types

Keyword Scope Reassign Redeclare

var Function Yes Yes
var name = "Ali"; // Old way
let age = 20; // Block-scoped let Block Yes No
const pi = 3.14; // Cannot be const Block No No
reassigned
Example
• // var example
• var x = 10;
• var x = 20; // Re-declaration allowed
• // Block scope demonstration
• x = 30; // Update allowed • if (true) {
• [Link](x); // Output: 30 • var a = 1;
• // let example
• let b = 2;
• let y = 10;
• // let y = 20; // Re-declaration NOT allowed
• const c = 3;}
• y = 25; // Update allowed • [Link](a); // Works (var is
• [Link](y); // Output: 25
function/global scoped)
• // const example • // [Link](b); // Error (let is
• const z = 10; block scoped)
• // z = 20; // Re-assignment NOT allowed • // [Link](c); // Error (const
• [Link](z); // Output: 10 is block scoped)
Data Types
• Primitive Data Types
• let name = "Ahmad"; // String
let age = 25; // Number
let isActive = true; // Boolean
let x = null; // Null
let y; // Undefined
• Non-Primitive
• let student = {name: "Ali", age: 22}; // Object
let marks = [80, 90, 75]; // Array
Linking to a JavaScript file: script
<script src="filename" type="text/javascript"></script>
HTML
• script tag should be placed in HTML page's head
• script code is stored in a separate .js file
• JS code can be placed directly in the HTML file's body or head (like CSS)
• but this is bad style (should separate content, presentation, and behavior

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Event-driven programming

 split breaks apart a string into an array using a

delimiter
 can also be used with regular expressions (seen
later)
 join merges an array into a single string, placing
a delimiter between them
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A JavaScript statement: alert
alert("IE6 detected. Suck-mode enabled.");
JS

• a JS command that pops up a dialog box with a

message

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Buttons
<button>Click me!</button> HTML

• button's text appears inside tag; can also contain images

• To make a responsive button or other UI control:
1. choose the control (e.g. button) and event (e.g. mouse 1. click) of interest
2. write a JavaScript function to run when the event occurs
3. attach the function to the event on the control

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JavaScript functions
function name() {
statement ;
statement ;
...
statement ;
} JS
function myFunction() {
alert("Hello!");
alert("How are you?");
} JS

 the above could be the contents of [Link]

linked to our HTML page
 statements placed into functions can be
evaluated in response to user events
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Event handlers
<element attributes onclick="function();">...
HTML

<button onclick="myFunction();">Click me!</button>

HTML
• JavaScript functions can be set as event handlers
• when you interact with the element, the function will execute
• onclick is just one of many event HTML attributes we'll use
• but popping up an alert window is disruptive and annoying
• A better user experience would be to have the message appear on the page...

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Document Object Model (DOM)
• most JS code manipulates
elements on an HTML page
• we can examine elements' state
• e.g. see whether a box is
checked
• we can change state
• e.g. insert some new text into
a div
• we can change styles
• e.g. make a paragraph red

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DOM element objects

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Accessing elements:
[Link]
var name = [Link]("id");
JS

<button onclick="changeText();">Click me!</button>

<span id="output">replace me</span>
<input id="textbox" type="text" /> HTML

function changeText() {
var span = [Link]("output");
var textBox = [Link]("textbox");

[Link] = "red";

} JS

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Accessing elements:
[Link]
 [Link] returns the DOM
object for an element with a given id
 can change the text inside most elements by
setting the innerHTML property
 can change the text in form controls by setting
the value property

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Changing element style: [Link]

Attribute Property or style object

color color
padding padding
background-color backgroundColor
border-top-width borderTopWidth
Font size fontSize
Font famiy fontFamily

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Preetify
function changeText() {
//grab or initialize text here

// font styles added by JS:

[Link] = "13pt";
[Link] = "Comic Sans MS";
[Link] = "red"; // or pink?
} JS

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More Javascript Syntax

29 CS380
Variables
var name = expression; JS

var clientName = "Connie Client";

var age = 32;
var weight = 127.4; JS
• variables are declared with the var keyword (case sensitive)
• types are not specified, but JS does have types ("loosely typed")
• Number, Boolean, String, Array, Object, Function, Null,
Undefined
• can find out a variable's type by calling typeof

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Number type
var enrollment = 99;
var medianGrade = 2.8;
var credits = 5 + 4 + (2 * 3);
JS
• integers and real numbers are the same type (no int vs. double)
• same operators: + - * / % ++ -- = += -= *= /= %=
• similar precedence to Java
• many operators auto-convert types: "2" * 3 is 6

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Comments (same as Java)
// single-line comment
/* multi-line comment */
JS

• identical to Java's comment syntax

• recall: 4 comment syntaxes
• HTML: <!-- comment -->
• CSS/JS/PHP: /* comment */
• Java/JS/PHP: // comment
• PHP: # comment

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Math object
var rand1to10 = [Link]([Link]() * 10 + 1);
var three = [Link]([Link]);
JS

 methods: abs, ceil, cos, floor, log,

max, min, pow, random, round, sin,
sqrt, tan
 properties: E, PI

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Special values: null and undefined
var ned = null;
var benson = 9;
// at this point in the code,
// ned is null
// benson's 9
// caroline is undefined
JS

 undefined : has not been declared, does not

exist
 null : exists, but was specifically assigned an

empty or null value

 Why does JavaScript have both of these?

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Logical operators
 > < >= <= && || ! == != === !==
 most logical operators automatically convert

types:
 5 < "7"is true
 42 == 42.0 is true
 "5.0" == 5 is true

 === and !== are strict equality tests; checks both

type and value
 "5.0" === 5 is false

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if/else statement (same as Java)
if (condition) {
statements;
} else if (condition) {
statements;
} else {
statements;
}
JS
 identical structure to Java's if/else statement
 JavaScript allows almost anything as a condition

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Boolean type
var iLike190M = true;
var ieIsGood = "IE6" > 0; // false
if ("web devevelopment is great") { /* true */ }
if (0) { /* false */ }
JS

 any value can be used as a Boolean

 "falsey" values: 0, 0.0, NaN, "", null, and undefined
 "truthy" values: anything else

 converting a value into a Boolean explicitly:

 var boolValue = Boolean(otherValue);
 var boolValue = !!(otherValue);

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for loop (same as Java)
var sum = 0;
for (var i = 0; i < 100; i++) {
sum = sum + i;
} JS

var s1 = "hello";
var s2 = "";
for (var i = 0; i < [Link]; i++) {
s2 += [Link](i) + [Link](i);
}
// s2 stores "hheelllloo" JS

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while loops (same as Java)
while (condition) {
statements;
} JS

do {
statements;
} while (condition);
JS

 break and continue keywords also behave as in

Java

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Popup boxes
alert("message"); // message
confirm("message"); // returns true or false
prompt("message"); // returns user input string
JS

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Arrays
var name = []; // empty array
var name = [value, value, ..., value]; // pre-filled
name[index] = value; // store element
JS

var ducks = ["Huey", "Dewey", "Louie"];

var stooges = []; // [Link] is 0
stooges[0] = "Larry"; // [Link] is 1
stooges[1] = "Moe"; // [Link] is 2
stooges[4] = "Curly"; // [Link] is 5
stooges[4] = "Shemp"; // [Link] is 5
JS

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Array methods
var a = ["Stef", "Jason"]; // Stef, Jason
[Link]("Brian"); // Stef, Jason, Brian
[Link]("Kelly"); // Kelly, Stef, Jason, Brian
[Link](); // Kelly, Stef, Jason
[Link](); // Stef, Jason
[Link](); // Jason, Stef
JS
 array serves as many data structures: list, queue,
stack, ...
 methods: concat, join, pop, push, reverse, shift,
slice, sort, splice, toString, unshift
 push and pop add / remove from back
 unshift and shift add / remove from front
 shift and pop return the element that is removed
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String type
var s = "Connie Client";
var fName = [Link](0, [Link](" ")); // "Connie"
var len = [Link]; // 13
var s2 = 'Melvin Merchant';
JS
• methods: charAt, charCodeAt, fromCharCode, indexOf, lastIndexOf, replace, split, substring, toLowerCase, toUpperCase
• charAt returns a one-letter String (there is no char type)

• length property (not a method as in Java)

• Strings can be specified with "" or ''
• concatenation with + :
• 1 + 1 is 2, but "1" + 1 is "11"

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More about String
 escape sequences behave as in Java: \' \" \& \n \t
\\
 converting between numbers and Strings:
var count = 10;
var s1 = "" + count; // "10"
var s2 = count + " bananas, ah ah ah!"; // "10 bananas, ah
ah ah!"
var n1 = parseInt("42 is the answer"); // 42
var n2 = parseFloat("booyah"); // NaN JS

• accessing the letters of a String:

var firstLetter = s[0]; // fails in IE
var firstLetter = [Link](0); // does work in IE
var lastLetter = [Link]([Link] - 1);
JS
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Splitting strings: split and join
var s = "the quick brown fox";
var a = [Link](" "); // ["the", "quick", "brown", "fox"]
[Link](); // ["fox", "brown", "quick", "the"]
s = [Link]("!"); // "fox!brown!quick!the"
JS

 split breaks apart a string into an array using a

delimiter
 can also be used with regular expressions (seen
later)
 join merges an array into a single string, placing
a delimiter between them
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Conclusion: The Power of
JavaScript
JavaScript is essential for modern web development. It's a versatile
language with broad applications. Continuous learning and growth are
key to mastering it. Thank you!