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JS (JavaScript, jQuery)

About JS

JavaScript is a prototype-based language introduced by Mozilla and is the most popular client-side scripting language. JavaScript is executed on the user’s browser - resulting in inconsistencies and JavaScript not working across browsers. Classes and OOP (object-oriented programming) concepts are built into JavaScript - if you know where to look. JavaScript is not like other programming languages. Everything is an object and can be extended - even the DOM (Document Object Model).

JavaScript Frameworks

There are a range of frameworks that extend the functionality of JavaScript and fix the differences between browsers, such as qooxdoo, jQuery, Prototype, MooTools, Ext JS and YUI Library. Code written for one framework can be ported to any other framework. The jQuery framework is used in projects on this website as it simplifies the code more than other frameworks, allowing commands to be chained together (called on one line).

AJAX

AJAX is a JavaScript component that allows you to get page content asynchronously, allowing the page to continue executing code while waiting for the content to return. AJAX is useful to grab code without refreshing the page or changing url. Keep in mind that search engines do not run JavaScript and will not scrape content returned using AJAX. Do not over-use it.