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JavaScript

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What is Javascript?

Well, it has nothing to do with Java, it's really a miss-naming. Javascript is an interpreted language whose interpreter is embedded in a browser. It first appeared in 1995 when it was called LiveScript. It main use is in HTML pages where it is used in making rollovers, opening web pages without all browser elements visible such that all you see is the page itself, you can even specify the size of the window (like the popups used on this guide).

What's can Javascript do?

It can be used to make sites look more interesting, this site uses Javascript to make rollovers function, it can open up windows, it can open popup meassage boxes to greet you when you visit a site, create popup menus, it can read your browser version and OS - useful for directing you to a version of the site you are visiting tailored for your browser, create forms, animate layers in a browser to create all kinds of interesting pages and many other effects.

JavaScript gives a web site developer access to your browsers BOM and the W3C'c DOM allowing changes to be made to any element in a page after the page has loaded, even allowing things to be changed from the way they are laid out in the HTML that makes up the page.

Is Javascript Dangerous?

Well it depends, it's like guns, the gun itself isn't dangerous it's the people that use it that make it dangerous. It can't be used to create standalone applications or applets and it can't read or write files except for Cookies. It can't format your hard drive but there are scripts that make you think it has. New exploits and problems are being discovered all the time so you should filter it as much as possible. However, don't let evil people stop you enjoying the internet, most web designers don't exploit all the latest dangers you hear about, there just trying to make better and better sites. Unless you trawling the Internet underground all the time you have little to be worried about.

Javascript can make sites more interactive and easier to use and without it many things wouldn't be possible.

For more Information:

Google search for Javascript Exploits.
Introduction to Javascript
Voodoo's Intro to Javascript
Javascript Must Be Eradicated From The Web
Javascript for Beginners - Javascript Security

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This is an unofficial guide, the information expressed here may differ from Agnitum's. There is a support forum (no longer run by Agnitum, but by users) if you need more help this is a good place to start. Where information here conflicts with what Agnitum have told you always go with the information given to you by Agnitum.

Guide/site and images ©Stephen Cox