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- Don't I need a development environment to work with JavaScript?
- Nope. As with HTML, all you need is a text editor and a browser that sup-
ports JavaScript. You might be confusing JavaScript with Java, a more comprehen-
sive programming language that needs at least a compiler for its programs to run.
However, tools like FireBug for Firefox, the Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar,
and Safari's Web Inspector can make your life easier. Consult the documentation
on those tools to learn more about their JavaScript features. - What is AJAX?
- One topic we haven't covered yet is AJAX. AJAX is a term used to describe
scripts that communicate with the server without requiring a Web page to be
fully reloaded. For example, you can use it to fetch information and display it
on the page, or to submit a form for processing, all without changing the full
page in the browser. I'll discuss AJAX in detail in Lesson 16, "Using JavaScript
Libraries." - When I use JavaScript, do I need to accommodate users whose browsers may
not support JavaScript or who have disabled it? - Some estimates indicate that over 90% of Web users have JavaScript
enabled. However, unless you have a really good reason not to, you should make
accommodations for users without JavaScript. You need not offer users who don't
have JavaScript an identical experience to those who have it, but they should be
able to access your site. For example, if you run an online store, do you really
want to shut out users because of their browser configuration?