This book teaches web developers how to use JavaScript and DOM scripting to create websites that deliver the fast response times, dynamic user interfaces, and special effects that today's web users expect. To get you off to a fast start, this book shows you how to develop, test, and debug your first JavaScript applications in the first 3 chapters. Then, it builds on those skills to teach you all the JavaScript features you'll use in professional applications, the way the top developers do. Next, it shows you how to use DOM scripting for the special effects that add to a website's functionality and appeal. Beyond that, it shows you how to create your own event libraries to store reusable code for responding to user actions . . . code that is critical for browser compatibility in handling DOM events. It also shows you how to use third-party JavaScript libraries like jQuery and Dojo that provide browser-compatible, reusable code for functions like animation and data validation -- a real timesaver on the job. A must-read for any serious web developer.