JavaScript
Roby John
CDAC-ACTS
Fall 2006
What is JavaScript?
JavaScript was designed to add interactivity to
HTML pages
JavaScript is a scripting language (a scripting
language is a lightweight programming language)
A JavaScript consists of lines of executable
computer code
A JavaScript is usually embedded directly into
HTML pages
JavaScript is an interpreted language (means
that scripts execute without preliminary
compilation)
Everyone can use JavaScript without purchasing
a license
Are Java and JavaScript the Same?
NO!
Java and JavaScript are two completely different
languages in both concept and design!
Java (developed by Sun Microsystems) is a
powerful and much more complex programming
language - in the same category
as C and C++
What can a JavaScript Do?
JavaScript gives HTML designers a programming tool -
HTML authors are normally not programmers, but
JavaScript is a scripting language with a very simple
syntax! Almost anyone can put small "snippets" of code into
their HTML pages
JavaScript can put dynamic text into an HTML page - A
JavaScript statement like this: document.write("<h1>"
+ name + "</h1>") can write a variable text into an
HTML page
JavaScript can react to events - A JavaScript can be set to
execute when something happens, like when a page has
finished loading or when a user clicks on an HTML element
JavaScript can read and write HTML elements - A JavaScript
can read and change the content of an HTML element
JavaScript can be used to validate data - A JavaScript can
be used to validate form data before it is submitted to a
server, this will save the server from extra processing
JavaScript can be used to detect the visitor's browser
JavaScript can be used to create cookies - A JavaScript can
be used to store and retrieve information on the visitor's
computer
Examples
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write("Hello World!")
</script>
</body>
</html>
Guidelines
With traditional programming languages, like C++ and
Java, each code statement has to end with a semicolon.
Many programmers continue this habit when writing
JavaScript, but in general, semicolons are optional!
However, semicolons are required if you want to put more
than one statement on a single line.
JavaScripts in the body section will be executed WHILE the
page loads.
JavaScripts in the head section will be executed when
CALLED.
External script
Sometimes you might want to run the same JavaScript on several
pages, without having to write the same script on every page.
To simplify this, you can write a JavaScript in an external file.
Save the external JavaScript file with a .js file extension.
Note: The external script cannot contain the <script> tag!
To use the external script, point to the .js file in the "src" attribute
of the <script> tag:
<html>
<head>
<script src="xxx.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>
JavaScript Variables
A variable is a "container" for information you want to store. A
variable's value can change during the script. You can refer to a
variable by name to see its value or to change its value.
Rules for variable names:
* Variable names are case sensitive
* They must begin with a letter or the underscore character
IMPORTANT! JavaScript is case-sensitive! A variable named
strname is not the same as a variable named STRNAME!
Declare a Variable
You can create a variable with the var statement:
var strname = some value
You can also create a variable without the var statement:
strname = some value
Assign a Value to a Variable
var strname = "Hege"
Or
strname = "Hege"
Lifetime of Variables
When you declare a variable within a function, the variable can
only be accessed within that function. When you exit the function,
the variable is destroyed. These variables are called local
variables.
You can have local variables with the same name in different
functions, because each is recognized only by the function in
which it is declared.
If you declare a variable outside a function, all the functions on
your page can access it. The lifetime of these variables starts
when they are declared, and ends when the page is closed.
JavaScript Conditional Statements
Very often when you write code, you want to perform
different actions for different decisions. You can use
conditional statements in your code to do this.
In JavaScript we have the following conditional statements:
* if statement - use this statement if you want to
execute some code only if a specified condition is true
* if...else statement - use this statement if you want to
execute some code if the condition is true and another code
if the condition is false
* if...else if....else statement - use this statement if you
want to select one of many blocks of code to be executed
* switch statement - use this statement if you want to
select one of many blocks of code to be executed
If Statement
You should use the if statement if you
want to execute some code only if a
specified condition is true.
Syntax
if (condition)
{
code to be executed if condition is true
}
Note that if is written in lowercase letters. Using uppercase letters (IF) will
generate a JavaScript error!
<script type="text/javascript">
//Write a "Good morning" greeting if the time is less than 10
var d=new Date()
var time=d.getHours()
if (time<10)
{
document.write("<b>Good morning</b>")
}
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//Write "Lunch-time!" if the time is 11
var d=new Date()
var time=d.getHours()
if (time==11)
{
document.write("<b>Lunch-time!</b>")
}
</script>
Note: When comparing variables you must always use two equals signs
next to each other (==)! Notice that there is no ..else.. in this syntax. You
just tell the code to execute some code only if the specified condition is
true.
If...else Statement
If you want to execute some code if a condition is
true and another code if the condition is not true,
use the if....else statement.
Syntax
if (condition)
{
code to be executed if condition is true
}
else
{
code to be executed if condition is not true
}
<script type="text/javascript">
//If the time is less than 10,
//you will get a "Good morning" greeting.
//Otherwise you will get a "Good day" greeting.
var d = new Date()
var time = d.getHours()
if (time < 10)
{
document.write("Good morning!")
}
else
{
document.write("Good day!")
}
</script>
If...else if...else Statement
You should use the if....else if...else statement if you want to
select one of many sets of lines to execute.
Syntax
if (condition1)
{
code to be executed if condition1 is true
}
else if (condition2)
{
code to be executed if condition2 is true
}
else
{
code to be executed if condition1 and
condition2 are not true
}
<script type="text/javascript">
var d = new Date()
var time = d.getHours()
if (time<10)
{
document.write("<b>Good morning</b>")
}
else if (time>10 && time<16)
{
document.write("<b>Good day</b>")
}
else
{
document.write("<b>Hello World!</b>")
}
</script>
JavaScript Switch Statement
You should use the switch statement if you want to select one of
many blocks of code to be executed.
switch(n)
{
case 1:
execute code block 1
break
case 2:
execute code block 2
break
default:
code to be executed if n is
different from case 1 and 2
}
This is how it works: First we have a single expression n (most
often a variable), that is evaluated once. The value of the
expression is then compared with the values for each case in the
structure. If there is a match, the block of code associated with
that case is executed. Use break to prevent the code from running
into the next case automatically.
<script type="text/javascript">
//You will receive a different greeting based
//on what day it is. Note that Sunday=0,
//Monday=1, Tuesday=2, etc.
var d=new Date()
theDay=d.getDay()
switch (theDay)
{
case 5:
document.write("Finally Friday")
break
case 6:
document.write("Super Saturday")
break
case 0:
document.write("Sleepy Sunday")
break
default:
document.write("I'm looking forward to this weekend!")
}
</script>
JavaScript Operators
String Operator
A string is most often text, for example "Hello
World!". To stick two or more string variables
together, use the + operator.
txt1="What a very"
txt2="nice day!"
txt3=txt1+" "+txt2
The variable txt3 now contains "What a very nice
day!".
JavaScript Operators
JavaScript also contains a conditional operator that assigns
a value to a variable based on some condition.
Syntax
variablename=(condition)?value1:value2
Example
greeting=(visitor=="PRES")?"Dear President ":"Dear "
If the variable visitor is equal to PRES, then put the string
"Dear President " in the variable named greeting. If
the variable visitor is not equal to PRES, then put the string
"Dear " into the variable named greeting.
JavaScript Popup Boxes
In JavaScript we can create three kind of popup
boxes: Alert box, Confirm box, and Prompt box.
Examples
Alert box
Alert box with line breaks
Confirm box
Prompt box
Alert Box
An alert box is often used if you want to make sure information comes
through to the user.
When an alert box pops up, the user will have to click "OK" to proceed.
alert("sometext")
Confirm Box
A confirm box is often used if you want the user to verify or accept
something.
When a confirm box pops up, the user will have to click either "OK" or
"Cancel" to proceed.
If the user clicks "OK", the box returns true. If the user clicks "Cancel",
the box returns false.
confirm("sometext")
Prompt Box
A prompt box is often used if you want the user
to input a value before entering a page.
When a prompt box pops up, the user will have
to click either "OK" or "Cancel" to proceed after
entering an input value.
If the user clicks "OK" the box returns the input
value. If the user clicks "Cancel" the box returns
null.
prompt("sometext","defaultvalue")
JavaScript Functions
A function is a reusable code-block that will be
executed by an event, or when the function is
called.
To keep the browser from executing a script as
soon as the page is loaded, you can write your
script as a function.
A function contains some code that will be
executed only by an event or by a call to that
function.
You may call a function from anywhere within the
page (or even from other pages if the function is
embedded in an external .js file).
Functions are defined at the beginning of a page,
in the <head> section.
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
function displaymessage()
{
alert("Hello World!")
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form>
<input type="button" value="Click me!“ onclick="displaymessage()"
>
</form>
</body>
</html>
The return Statement
The return statement is used to specify the value that is returned from the
function.
So, functions that are going to return a value must use the return
statement.
The function below should return the product of two numbers (a and b):
function prod(a,b)
{
x=a*b
return x
}
When you call the function above, you must pass along two parameters:
product=prod(2,3)
The returned value from the prod() function is 6, and it will be stored in
the variable called product.
JavaScript For Loop
The for loop is used when you know in
advance how many times the script should
run.
Syntax
for
(var=startvalue;var<=endvalue;var=var+
increment)
{
code to be executed
}
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
var i=0
for (i=0;i<=10;i++)
{
document.write("The number is " + i)
document.write("<br />")
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
JavaScript While Loop
How to write a while loop. Use a while
loop to run the same block of code while a
specified condition is true.
while (var<=endvalue)
{
code to be executed
}
Note: The <= could be any comparing
statement.
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
var i=0
while (i<=10)
{
document.write("The number is " + i)
document.write("<br />")
i=i+1
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
The do...while Loop
The do...while loop is a variant of the while loop.
This loop will always execute a block of code
ONCE, and then it will repeat the loop as long as
the specified condition is true.
This loop will always be executed at least once,
even if the condition is false, because the code is
executed before the condition is tested.
do
{
code to be executed
}
while (var<=endvalue)
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
var i=0
do
{
document.write("The number is " + i)
document.write("<br />")
i=i+1
}
while (i<10)
</script>
</body>
</html>
JavaScript Break and Continue
Break statement
Use the break statement to break the
loop.
Continue statement
Use the continue statement to break the
current loop and continue with the next
value.
JavaScript break and continue Statements
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
var i=0
for (i=0;i<=10;i++)
{
if (i==3){break}
document.write("The number is " + i)
document.write("<br />")
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
var i=0
for (i=0;i<=10;i++)
{
if (i==3){continue}
document.write("The number is " + i)
document.write("<br />")
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
JavaScript For...In Statement
The for...in statement is used to loop (iterate) through the
elements of an array or through the properties of an object.
The code in the body of the for ... in loop is executed once
for each element/property.
Syntax
for (variable in object)
{
code to be executed
}
The variable argument can be a named variable, an array
element, or a property of an object.
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
var x
var mycars = new Array()
mycars[0] = "Saab"
mycars[1] = "Volvo"
mycars[2] = "BMW"
for (x in mycars)
{
document.write(mycars[x] + "<br />")
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
JavaScript Events
By using JavaScript, we have the ability to create
dynamic web pages. Events are actions that can
be detected by JavaScript.
Every element on a web page has certain events
which can trigger JavaScript functions.
For example, we can use the onClick event of a
button element to indicate that a function will run
when a user clicks on the button.
We define the events in the HTML tags.
JavaScript Try...Catch Statement
When browsing Web pages on the internet, I guess we
have all seen a JavaScript alert box, telling you there is a
runtime error, and asking: "Do you wish to debug?" on
some pages.
Error message like that may be useful for developers, but
not for the users. When users see errors, they often leave
the Web page.
There are two ways of catching errors in a Web page:
By using the try...catch statement (available in IE5+,
Mozilla 1.0, and Netscape 6)
By using the onerror event. This is the old standard solution
to catch errors (available since Netscape 3)
Try...Catch Statement
The try...catch statement allows you to test a
block of code for errors. The try block contains
the code to be run, and the catch block contains
the code to be executed if an error occurs.
Syntax
try
{
//Run some code here
}
catch(err)
{
//Handle errors here
}
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
function message()
{
adlert("Welcome guest!")
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<input type="button" value="View message"
onclick="message()" />
</body>
</html>
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
var txt=""
function message()
{
try
{
adddlert("Welcome guest!")
}
catch(err)
{
txt="There was an error on this page.\n\n"
txt+="Error description: " + err.description + "\n\n"
txt+="Click OK to continue.\n\n"
alert(txt)
}
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<input type="button" value="View message" onclick="message()" />
</body>
</html>
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
var txt=""
function message()
{
try
{
adddlert("Welcome guest!")
}
catch(err)
{
txt="There was an error on this page.\n\n"
txt+="Click OK to continue viewing this page,\n"
txt+="or Cancel to return to the home page.\n\n"
if(!confirm(txt))
{
document.location.href="http://www.w3schools.com/"
}
}
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<input type="button" value="View message" onclick="message()" />
</body>
</html>
The throw Statement
The throw statement allows you to create an
exception.
If you use this statement together with the
try...catch statement, you can control program
flow and generate accurate error messages.
Syntax
throw(exception)
The exception can be a string, integer, Boolean
or an object.
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
var x=prompt("Enter a number between 0 and 10:","")
try
{
if(x>10)
throw "Err1"
else if(x<0)
throw "Err2"
}
catch(er)
{
if(er=="Err1")
alert("Error! The value is to high")
if(er == "Err2")
alert("Error! The value is to low")
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
JavaScript The onerror Event
The onerror event is fired whenever there is a script error in the
page.
To use the onerror event, you must create a function to handle
the errors. Then you call the function with the onerror event
handler. The event handler is called with three arguments: msg
(error message), url (the url of the page that caused the error)
and line (the line where the error occurred).
onerror=handleErr
function handleErr(msg,url,l)
{
//Handle the error here
return true or false
}
The value returned by onerror determines whether the browser
displays a standard error message. If you return false, the
browser displays the standard error message in the JavaScript
console. If you return true, the browser does not display the
standard error message.
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
onerror=handleErr
var txt=""
function handleErr(msg,url,l)
{
txt="There was an error on this page.\n\n"
txt+="Error: " + msg + "\n"
txt+="URL: " + url + "\n"
txt+="Line: " + l + "\n\n"
txt+="Click OK to continue.\n\n"
alert(txt)
return true
}
function message()
{
adddlert("Welcome guest!")
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<input type="button" value="View message" onclick="message()"
/>
</body>
</html>
JavaScript Special Characters
In JavaScript you can add special characters to a text string by using the
backslash sign.
The backslash (\) is used to insert apostrophes, new lines, quotes, and
other special characters into a text string.
var txt="We are the so-called "Vikings" from the north."
document.write(txt)
In JavaScript, a string is started and stopped with either single or double
quotes. This means that the string above will be chopped to:
We are the so-called
To solve this problem, you must place a backslash (\) before each double
quote in "Viking". This turns each double quote into a string literal:
var txt="We are the so-called \"Vikings\" from the north."
document.write(txt)
JavasScript will now output the proper text string:
We are the so-called "Vikings" from the north.
JavaScript Special Characters
The table below lists other special characters that can be
added to a text string with the backslash sign:
Code Outputs
\' single quote
\" double quote
\& ampersand
\\ backslash
\n new line
\r carriage return
\t tab
\b backspace
\f form feed
Properties
Properties are the values associated with an object.
In the following example we are using the length property
of the String object to return the number of characters in a
string:
<script type="text/javascript">
var txt="Hello World!"
document.write(txt.length)
</script>
The output of the code above will be:
12
JavaScript Guidelines
JavaScript is Case Sensitive
A function named "myfunction" is not the same as "myFunction"
and a variable named "myVar" is not the same as "myvar".
JavaScript is case sensitive - therefore watch your capitalization
closely when you create or call variables, objects and functions.
White Space
JavaScript ignores extra spaces. You can add white space to your
script to make it more readable. The following lines are
equivalent:
name="Hege"
name = "Hege"
Break up a Code Line
You can break up a code line within a text string with a backslash.
The example below will be displayed properly:
document.write("Hello \
World!")
However, you cannot break up a code line like this:
document.write \
("Hello World!")
Comments
You can add comments to your script by using two
slashes //:
//this is a comment
document.write("Hello World!")
or by using /* and */ (this creates a multi-line
comment block):
/* This is a comment
block. It contains
several lines */
document.write("Hello World!")
JavaScript Objects Introduction
JavaScript is an Object Oriented Programming (OOP) language.
An OOP language allows you to define your own objects and make
your own variable types.
Object Oriented Programming
JavaScript is an Object Oriented Programming (OOP) language.
An OOP language allows you to define your own objects and make
your own variable types.
However, creating your own objects will be explained later, in the
Advanced JavaScript section. We will start by looking at the built-
in JavaScript objects, and how they are used. The next pages will
explain each built-in JavaScript object in detail.
Note that an object is just a special kind of data. An object has
properties and methods.
JavaScript Date Object
the Date object is used to work with dates and times.
Return today's date and time
How to use the Date() method to get today's date.
getTime()
Use getTime() to calculate the years since 1970.
setFullYear()
How to use setFullYear() to set a specific date.
toUTCString()
How to use toUTCString() to convert today's date (according to
UTC) to a string.
getDay()
Use getDay() and an array to write a weekday, and not just a
number.
Methods
Methods are the actions that can be performed on objects.
In the following example we are using the toUpperCase()
method of the String object to display a text in uppercase
letters:
<script type="text/javascript">
var str="Hello world!"
document.write(str.toUpperCase())
</script>
The output of the code above will be:
HELLO WORLD!
JavaScript String Object
The String object is used to manipulate a stored piece of text.
Common Methods
Return the length of a string
How to use the length property to find the length of a string.
Style strings
How to style strings.
The indexOf() method
How to use the indexOf() method to return the position of the first
occurrence of a specified string value in a string.
The match() method
How to use the match() method to search for a specified string value
within a string and return the string value if found
Replace characters in a string - replace()
How to use the replace() method to replace some characters with some
other characters in a string.
var myDate=new Date()
myDate.setFullYear(2010,0,14)
var today = new Date()
if (myDate>today)
alert("Today is before 14th January 2010")
else
alert("Today is after 14th January 2010")
JavaScript Array Object
The Array object is used to store a set of values in a single variable name.
Create an array
Create an array, assign values to it, and write the values to the output.
For...In Statement
How to use a for...in statement to loop through the elements of an array.
Join two arrays - concat()
How to use the concat() method to join two arrays.
Put array elements into a string - join()
How to use the join() method to put all the elements of an array into a
string.
Literal array - sort()
How to use the sort() method to sort a literal array.
Numeric array - sort()
How to use the sort() method to sort a numeric array.
Declaring Arrays
var mycars=new Array()
mycars[0]="Saab"
mycars[1]="Volvo"
mycars[2]="BMW"
You could also pass an integer argument to control the array's
size:
var mycars=new Array(3)
mycars[0]="Saab"
mycars[1]="Volvo"
mycars[2]="BMW"
Or
var mycars=new Array("Saab","Volvo","BMW")
Note: If you specify numbers or true/false values inside the
array then the type of variables will be numeric or Boolean
instead of string.
Accessing Arrays
You can refer to a particular element in an array
by referring to the name of the array and the
index number.
The index number starts at 0.
The following code line:
document.write(mycars[0])
will result in the following output:
Saab
Modify Values in Existing Arrays
To modify a value in an existing array, just add a
new value to the array with a specified index
number:
mycars[0]="Opel"
Now, the following code line:
document.write(mycars[0])
will result in the following output:
Opel
JavaScript Boolean Object
The Boolean object is used to convert a non-Boolean value to a
Boolean value (true or false).
Check Boolean value
Check if a Boolean object is true or false.
Boolean Object
The Boolean object is an object wrapper for a Boolean value.
The Boolean object is used to convert a non-Boolean value to a
Boolean value (true or false).
We define a Boolean object with the new keyword. The following
code line defines a Boolean object called myBoolean:
var myBoolean=new Boolean()
Note: If the Boolean object has no initial value or if it is 0, -0, null, "",
false, undefined, or NaN, the object is set to false.
Otherwise it is true (even with the string "false")!
All the following lines of code create Boolean objects with an initial value of
false:
var myBoolean=new Boolean()
var myBoolean=new Boolean(0)
var myBoolean=new Boolean(null)
var myBoolean=new Boolean("")
var myBoolean=new Boolean(false)
var myBoolean=new Boolean(NaN)
And all the following lines of code create Boolean objects with an initial value
of true:
var myBoolean=new Boolean(true)
var myBoolean=new Boolean("true")
var myBoolean=new Boolean("false")
var myBoolean=new Boolean("Richard")
JavaScript Math Object
The Math object allows you to perform common mathematical
tasks.
round()
How to use round().
random()
How to use random() to return a random number between 0 and
1.
max()
How to use max() to return the number with the highest value of
two specified numbers.
min()
How to use min() to return the number with the lowest value of
two specified numbers.
Math Object
The Math object allows you to perform common mathematical
tasks.
The Math object includes several mathematical values and
functions. You do not need to define the Math object before using
it.
Mathematical Values
JavaScript provides eight mathematical values (constants) that
can be accessed from the Math object. These are: E,
PI, square root of 2, square root of 1/2, natural log of 2, natural
log of 10, base-2 log of E, and base-10 log of E.
You may reference these values from your JavaScript like this:
Math.E
Math.PI
Math.SQRT2
Math.SQRT1_2
Math.LN2
Math.LN10
Math.LOG2E
Math.LOG10E
JavaScript Cookies
A cookie is often used to identify a user.
A cookie is a variable that is stored on the
visitor's computer. Each time the same
computer requests a page with a browser,
it will send the cookie too.
With JavaScript, you can both create and
retrieve cookie values.
* Name cookie - The first time a visitor arrives to your web
page, he or she must fill in her/his name. The name is then
stored in a cookie. Next time the visitor arrives at your
page, he or she could get a welcome message like
"Welcome John Doe!" The name is retrieved from the
stored cookie
Password cookie - The first time a visitor arrives to your
web page, he or she must fill in a password. The password
is then stored in a cookie. Next time the visitor arrives at
your page, the password is retrieved from the cookie
Date cookie - The first time a visitor arrives to your web
page, the current date is stored in a cookie. Next time the
visitor arrives at your page, he or she could get a message
like "Your last visit was on Tuesday August 11, 2005!" The
date is retrieved from the stored cookie
Create and Store a Cookie
function setCookie(c_name,value,expiredays)
{
var exdate=new Date()
exdate.setDate(expiredays)
document.cookie=c_name+ "=" +escape(value)+
((expiredays==null) ? "" : ";expires="+exdate)
}
function getCookie(c_name)
{
if (document.cookie.length>0)
{
c_start=document.cookie.indexOf(c_name + "=")
if (c_start!=-1)
{
c_start=c_start + c_name.length+1
c_end=document.cookie.indexOf(";",c_start)
if (c_end==-1) c_end=document.cookie.length
return unescape(document.cookie.substring(c_start,c_end))
}
}
return null
}
function checkCookie()
{
username=getCookie('username')
if (username!=null)
{alert('Welcome again '+username+'!')}
else
{
username=prompt('Please enter your name:',"")
if (username!=null||username!="")
{
setCookie('username',username,365)
}
}
}
JavaScript Form Validation
JavaScript can be used to validate input data in
HTML forms before sending off the content to a
server.
Form data that typically are checked by a
JavaScript could be:
* has the user left required fields empty?
* has the user entered a valid e-mail address?
* has the user entered a valid date?
* has the user entered text in a numeric field?
Required Fields
The function below checks if a required field has been left empty.
If the required field is blank, an alert box
alerts a message and the function returns false. If a value is
entered, the function returns true (means that data
is OK):
function validate_required(field,alerttxt)
{
with (field)
{
if (value==null||value=="")
{alert(alerttxt);return false}
else {return true}
}
}
E-mail Validation
The function below checks if the content has the general syntax of an
email.
This means that the input data must contain at least an @ sign and a dot
(.). Also, the @ must not be the first
character of the email address, and the last dot must at least be one
character after the @ sign:
function validate_email(field,alerttxt)
{
with (field)
{
apos=value.indexOf("@")
dotpos=value.lastIndexOf(".")
if (apos<1||dotpos-apos<2)
{alert(alerttxt);return false}
else {return true}
}
}
JavaScript Create Your Own Objects
Creating Your Own Objects
There are different ways to create a new object:
1. Create a direct instance of an object
The following code creates an instance of an object and adds four
properties to it:
personObj=new Object()
personObj.firstname="John"
personObj.lastname="Doe"
personObj.age=50
personObj.eyecolor="blue"
Adding a method to the personObj is also simple. The following code adds
a method called eat() to the personObj:
personObj.eat=eat
JavaScript Create Your Own Objects
2. Create a template of an object
The template defines the structure of an object:
function person(firstname,lastname,age,eyecolor)
{
this.firstname=firstname
this.lastname=lastname
this.age=age
this.eyecolor=eyecolor
}
Once you have the template, you can create new instances of the object,
like this:
myFather=new person("John","Doe",50,"blue")
myMother=new person("Sally","Rally",48,"green")
You can also add some methods to the person object. This is also done
inside the template:
function person(firstname,lastname,age,eyecolor)
{
this.firstname=firstname
this.lastname=lastname
this.age=age
this.eyecolor=eyecolor
this.newlastname=newlastname
}
Note that methods are just functions attached to objects. Then we will
have to write the newlastname() function:
function newlastname(new_lastname)
{
this.lastname=new_lastname
}
Usage
myMother.newlastname("Doe").
