JavaScript for Web Design – Advantages and Disadvantages
This article covers the good and the bad points of using JavaScript in your website designs. It points away the areas where JavaScript excels as a web centered programming language and also describes situations where its use can actually deter from the performance of any website.
First of all, JavaScript is a browser based programming language that actually runs client part. This means that any code that you write in JavaScript is delivered along with your website pages and the scripts that you write actually run from within the users’ browser rather than directly on the server that is serving the web page. Right now there are situations where JavaScript is an outstanding solution for implementing neat features in a web design but there are also situations where using JavaScript can hurt your websites performance. It is my purpose in this article to describe the right way to use JavaScript and how to circumnavigate the downsides of using this versatile and powerful scripting language.
JavaScript for Web site design – The Advantages
JavaScript is a great solution to implement when validating input forms on the client side. This means that in case a user forgets to enter his name in a form for instance a JavaScript validation functionality can popup a message to let him know about the omission. This is a far better solution that having a server side validation routine handle the error because the server really does not have to do any additional processing. An asp or php schedule could be written to achieve the same activity however the JavaScript would not allow the form to be submitted unless it was completed properly in the first place, a much more robust solution!
Another area where JavaScript excels is in the creation of dynamic effects such as rollover images and scripted slideshows, where its use has become commonplace. Because JavaScript operates inside the clients internet browser it can be used to change seen the users screen after the page has been sent by the server. This specific allows it to create some very impressive powerful image effects.
JavaScript for Web Design – Typically the Down sides
One of the major draw backs to using JavaScript is that it tends to significantly bloat web pages. JavaScript code can quickly add up to hundreds of lines of code if you are using it to do anything even remotely interesting. That said the condition of large pieces of JavaScript code is definitely solved by storing the JavaScript code off into separate JavaScript source documents that contain a. js file format. This cleans up your website code because the JavaScript code is stored separately to the HTML page itself, leaving a much cleaner and more readable web page.
Due to JavaScript’s tendency to bloat web pages it can be very bad for the search engine friendliness of your on line site. This is because when a lookup engine gets to your site looking for quality content and keywords to ascertain what your page is al about, the last thing it wants to see is hundreds of lines of JavaScript code. Again, this problem is easily solves by neatly storing JavaScript code away in screenplay files with a. js extension and linking to the script file in your HTML documents.
Summary:
JavaScript is a feature rich and useful browser based script that if used properly can achieve some great effects and enhance the experience for the final user. There are disadvantages to its use in that it has a tendency to bloat web pages. The key thing to remember is to get the most of both worlds by using JavaScript code in exterior script files. That way the code is divided from your content so you get all the advantage of JavaScript functionality but without the adverse results of the associated computer code bloating.
