Professional JavaScript for Web Developers 2nd Edition CoverEven at nearly 3 years old, this book is surprisingly relevant and more importantly, it is an excellent resource for Front-End Web Developers

I came across Nicholas C. Zakas’ Professional JavaScript for Web Developers, 2nd Edition recently. As usual, my first instinct was to check the publication date; “hmmmm 2009… I was looking for something a little more current..” I flipped through a few pages, and the next thing I knew, a half-hour had flown by.

This title is an excellent resource for any front-end web developer who is new to JavaScript. While it does cover a few advanced topics such as Object-Oriented JavaScript, it does  a very nice job of discussing the language from the absolute basics, assuming no prior knowledge. Even if you are fairly familiar and comfortable with JavaScript, this book is time well spent. I particularly recommend it for those of you who feel a little out of place without the magic wand that is the jQuery dollar sign ($). Zakas leaves no stone un-turned with regards to native JavaScript DOM traversal and manipulation.

References to “….the new Internet Explorer ver 8…”” and a discussion of up-coming HTML5 features will feel a little out of date, but at the time of publication, the content was more than spot-on.

  • Title: Professional JavaScript for Web Developers, 2nd Edition
  • Author: Nicholas C. Zakas
  • Number of pages: 840
  • Publisher: Wrox
  • Published Date: January 14, 2009(2 edition)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 047022780X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0470227800

Summary

Professional JavaScript for Web Developers 2nd Edition by Nicholas C. Zakas is an exhaustive and comprehensive education in native JavaScript that is highly recommended. The writing style is easy-going and up-beat, and there is nothing left to the imagination.

Helpful links for Professional JavaScript for Web Developers 2nd Edition

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-JavaScript-Developers-Wrox-Programmer/dp/047022780X

http://www.wrox.com/WileyCDA/WroxTitle/Professional-JavaScript-for-Web-Developers.productCd-047022780X.html

http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1118026691.html