Chapter 23. Core JavaScript Reference

This part of the book is a reference section that documents the classes, methods, and properties defined by the core JavaScript language. The introduction and sample reference page explain how to use and get the most out of this reference section. Take the time to read this material carefully, and you will find it easier to locate and use the information you need!

This reference section is arranged alphabetically. The reference pages for the methods and properties of classes are alphabetized by their full names, which include the names of the classes that define them. For example, if you want to read about the replace( ) method of the String class, you would look under "String.replace," not just "replace."

Core JavaScript defines some global functions and properties, such as eval( ) and NaN. Technically, these are properties of a global object. Since the global object has no name, however, they are listed in this reference section under their own unqualified names. For convenience, the full set of global functions and properties in core JavaScript is summarized in a special reference page named "Global" (even though there is no object or class by that name).

Sometimes you may find that you don't know the name of the class or interface that defines the method or property want to look up, or you may not be sure which of the three reference sections to look up a class or interface in. Part VI of this book is a special index designed to help with these situations. Look up the name of a class, method, or property, and it will tell you which reference section to look in and which class to look under in that section. For example, if you look up "Date," it will tell you that the Date class is documented in this core reference section. And if you look up the name "match," it will tell you that match( ) is a method of the String class and is also documented in this section.

Once you've found the reference page you're looking for, you shouldn't have much difficulty finding the information you need. Still, you'll be able to make better use of this reference section if you understand how the reference pages are written and organized. What follows is a sample reference page titled "Sample Entry" that demonstrates the structure of each reference page and tells you where to find various types of information within the pages. Take the time to read this page before diving into the rest of the reference material.