JavaScript Reference Manual

[OnTheNet]

Does anyone know of a good, and current, JavaScript reference manual that is online? My hardcopy manual wasn't that great to start out with, and it is getting outdated. I am looking for something that covers properties and methods in detail, and hopefully mentions if they are supported by the different browsers. Any help is appreciated, and I will keep searching through the web. Thanks.

[alphadesk]

Look at this one.

http://developer.netscape.com/docs/manuals/js/client/jsguide/index.htm

[OnTheNet]

Thanks alphadesk, this is definitely one to bookmark. I tried to go to DevEdge Home (http://developer.netscape.com/index.html) earlier but kept getting some funky results (my browser kept bouncing; trying to refresh over and over). Weird.

FYI: I have been using http://developer.irt.org/script/script.htm for good real world examples of JavaScript. Got any other suggestions? Thanks.

[rainbore]

Call me a heretic, but I think online programming manuals are good only for quick reference when you need to look up a specific piece of information. If you're trying to learn a new language or really expand your skills, nothing beats having a real book on your desk that you can sit down with and follow along through the lessons.

If you're on a tight budget, visit a used book store. As long as your topic isn't too esoteric (that is, don't expect to find the latest tome on every programming language) - you'll probably find something reasonably up-to-date at a very nice price. Used book stores are also havens for publisher close-outs. I was in such a store in St. Paul, MN a couple of weeks ago and picked up an unused copy of the 2001 edition of Que's "Using JavaScript" for 10 bucks. The store had several such bargains and if I didn't have to carry them all home in my suitcase, I would have picked up several more.

Good luck!

[OnTheNet]

I agree that nothing beats having a good book to thumb through for learning and as a reference. What I like about online material is the ability to quickly search for key words, and to see examples of how many different programmers implement their programs. You get to see different styles (some good, some bad), and can see examples of how to tackle specific problems your hardcopy book may not have covered. Plus, I work/play around online at several different locations and I couldn’t imagine lugging around the different reference manuals I use just to answer an easy question about some function. Now if I could figure out how to read long text material from the screen for more than 15 minutes without my eyes blurring I would be all right.

With that said, let me also say that I am a relative newbie when it comes to programming. I know the fundamentals of C, Perl, and Javascript. I play around with these just for my entertainment and to learn. Maybe one day I will stop being so lazy and actually do something useful with what I learn. Take it easy.