Javascript
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Javascript is a client-side language
that only controls events on a web page. It does not
have the full-blown programming capability of Java
or ActiveX, languages which can edit the program files
on your computer. However, javascript can be used
to call other programs, and is sometimes turned off
by the security conscious viewer.
Widely used in web dropdown menus,
slide-shows, mouseovers, special effects, and session
e-commerce information, javascript should be combined
with hard coded html links, to make sure that your
customers can reach your content.
Even if your customers cruise with
their javascript enabled, browsers vary in their ability
to recognize a given script. If you see a site that
states "optimized for Internet Explorer"
you can be sure that unless the customer is using
that browser, they are missing some portion of the
page content.
- Some scripts only work for Microsoft Internet
explorer
- Some scripts don't support Linux, Safari, Opera,
older Macs with IE 5.1 or anything but the most
recent variants of major browsers.
- Even when the script functions, the display may
vary widely, depending on the browser that views
it.
Each time a new browser hits
the market, each time you download "critical updates"
to patch a browser's security risk, existing javascript
may become obsolete. Sometimes the changes cause no
problems, but sometimes, as when Firefox became available,
entire scripts no longer function.
We use a variety of javascript functions,
but try to avoid script which does not function in
Netscape, MSIE, Safari, and Firefox. We use no-script,
and/or site maps, to back up javascripts menus. There
are some very fine freeware scripts available that
only require an authoring notice to be used. However,
if you want drop-down menus for a large commercial
website, we recommend using scripts from one of the
wide range of commercial vendors dedicated to keeping
up with the ever shifting "standards" of
the browser wars. |
