Head First JavaScript

by Michael Morrison

Book Overview

Please note: This book is no longer in print and has been replaced by Head First JavaScript Programming.So you're ready to make the leap from writing HTML and CSS web pages to creating dynamic web... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0596527748
• ISBN13: 9780596527747
• Release Date: December 2007
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media
• Length: 615 Pages
• Weight: 3.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 8.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A good first book for learning Javascript

This book is for learning Javascript, what it is good for, what it is not, etc. This is not a reference book. I've read through this book, but then I'm accustomed to self-teaching through reading, and I also had a pretty good understanding of Javascript. I was just looking to brush up, plus I like the layout of the Head First series of books. The test of this book is how it engaged my husband. He wouldn't read any technical book cover to cover unless you could somehow incorporate NFL football into the text. Well, he's been pounding away at Javascript using this book in his spare time for the past three weeks and he's come away learning quite a bit so far. It has done two things that any successful textbook must do - hold the interest of a reluctant student and teach them something as well. It does this by explaining each subject clearly and in several ways without coming across as repetitive. As other readers have said already, it is not entirely self-contained. I would suggest O'Reilly's old standard JavaScript: The Definitive Guide as a reference and also to fill in information that is missing in this book. Although, one thing I really like about most of the Head First series of books is that they include a section labeled "What is Missing".

An Excellent Book to Learn JS

I am a self-taught web developer, and owned several books on HTML and JavaScript. I taught myself HTML easily as it is an easy coding material, and I used Head First series and Missing Manual, and both are fine. However, I got no way for JS, even though I browsed several books, and always spent time in the library. With those books, I always got stuck after reading several chapters, or I was bored by the contents and won't find interest to go on. But for HF JS, the approach is different, and I find the content more enjoyable with diagrams and teaching materials. Also, the teaching methods and style are totally different from other books, that a beginner should have interest to wade on. As well, the contents are related with web, unlike other books that chiefly aim to teach you programming language. I wish other computer books should be good for reading, rather than providing you with loath and heaps uninteresting materials, and try to stick into your mind. A good place to start with, and a good buying. And I look forward to expect Head First PHP, that I found other books not come to my needs as a beginner.

Great introduction to Javascript but not a reference book

The first headfirst book I read was the HTML one and I have been hooked ever since. I took a class in javascript last semester and was hoping this book would come out before finals but alas that didn't happen. Anyways, I got this book when it first came out and I have been going through it since. Here are my observations Pros: 1)The pacing is well-balanced. For those with no experience in programming they slowly but surely introduce you to if statements, variables, loops, functions, and arrays. Ch 7 and 8 hit the sweet spot in terms of usefulness and ease of learning. The book gets more challenging at the end but by that time I was ready for the topics they introduced. 2) Chapter 7 is definitely my favorite chapter of the book. It introduced me to a much more efficient way of data editing/validation. I had always used indexof but this chapter introduced me to regular expressions and they ROCKED my world! A very practical and useful chapter. 3) The code examples- The examples they use in the book are very relevant to what you might actually use on your own website. Each chapter introduced the code layer by layer so as to not overwhelm me with its complexity 4) Attention to detail- As I read the book, I often had unanswered questions and then a couple of pages later the author would answer it. If there was function or object I wasn't familiar with, it would be explained with the pencil writing. 5) The FUN Factor! The code examples they use like the choose your own adventure in ch.8 are very creative and interesting. Some might consider the humor sophomoric but a young college student like myself appreciated it. Cons: 1) This is not a reference book. That's a double edged sword depending on what you are looking for though. This book is a great starting off point for beginners and by the end I felt I had become very proficient in javascript. Even though this book will be my main guide for Javascript, I know there is still more for me to learn and I'll probably buy that Oreilly book with the rhino on the cover. Bottom line: If you are taking a class in javascript or want to know how to make your web pages more interactive, this is a great introduction to javascript. Even though I still got an A, I know I could really have used this book last semester in my javascript class.

A Great Source for a Web Developer

I have looked all over for a JavaScript book that I can understand and will fit my needs as a web developer. When I saw they were coming out with this book, I pre-ordered it and I was very happy that my money was not a waste and it was worth the wait. Trust me, you won't be disappointed (this is coming from a beginner's experience). I plan to use this book and the Head First HTML book at my job. Between the Head First Series and the Missing Manual Series, you can't go wrong with either one.

Finally, a different approach to teaching JavaScript.

I pre-ordered this book on the strong reputation this line of books has. I like the Head First Java, 2nd Edition book, and still believe their Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML book is the best book there is for learning "smart" XHTML and CSS at the same time--whereas many books have NOT handled that balance well. I sponsor a high school computer programming club and my students had me pre-order this book for them, as they loved the Head First HTML book and felt this would be their best bet at really understanding JavaScript. JavaScript is a strange language to teach. Although you want to teach the basics of programming, you also want to have early exciting examples that show its possibilities when embedded in a web page. This book does about as well as can be done in one book, with sections on loops, decision making, de-bugging, functions and objects for those new to programming. Then there are also chapters on the most common uses of JavaScript, including, of course, forms and validation. If you're familiar with the Head First approach, you will find this book to fit in perfectly with their other titles. This is the kind of book you buy, highlight, and write in. Active learning. This is not a reference book.