The Document Object The Document Object ModelModel

GoalsGoalsUnderstand how a JavaScript can

communicate with the web page in which it “lives.”

Understand how to use dot notation.Understand how to read form

elements.Understand how to work with new

windows.

Review – ObjectsReview – ObjectsObjects are unique programming

entities in scripts or web pages. Objects have properties which describe them; methods (actions that objects can do) and events to which they can react.

A property is an object’s characteristic. Typically, properties come in property-value pairs (i.e. - background-color is a property; blue is a value).

A method is something that an object can do.

An event is an action to which an object can react (i.e. – when a web page loads).

Introducing DOMIntroducing DOMDescribes the way JavaScript

(and other client-side languages) can communicate with the web page in which it “lives.”

DOM allows us to dynamically update Web pages.

Because of DOM, we can now use JavaScript to interact with CSS and other web elements, like form objects.

Introducing DOMIntroducing DOMDOM relies on interaction with

objects in a web page. The document object is

considered the “core” object in DOM.

The top-level DOM object is the window object.

We can dynamically assign values to object properties:

Reading PropertiesReading Properties

Not only can we change properties dynamically, we can read properties, as well:

Common Document Common Document PropertiesPropertiesdocument.bgColor – The

background color of the page.document.fgColor – The text

color used on a page.document.domain – The address

of the web server that houses the page.

document.lastModified – The date and the last time someone edited the page.

Common Document Common Document PropertiesPropertiesdocument.URL – The address of

the web page.document.location – (Deprecated)

Same as document.URL document.referrer – The address

of the page that linked to the current page.

document.title – The text contained in the <title>…</title> tag of the current page.

Common Document Common Document MethodsMethodsdocument.open() – Begin a new

document, replacing existing content (destructive)

document.close() – Ends a document begun with the document.open() method

document.write() – Append text to the current document

document.writeln() – Append text to the current document and include a newline character (line break)

JavaScript Events & DOMJavaScript Events & DOMThrough recording and reacting

to events, we make our web page more interactive.

We can add this interactivity by detecting events in a document’s environment and writing programming statements to react to those events. Typically, we code this using functions:

Getting Input Using DOMGetting Input Using DOMInput is not just text anymore! It

can come from form components (text fields, password fields, hidden fields, radio buttons, etc.).

We can use dot notation to represent DOM hierarchy. DOM hierarchy provides each form element with its unique “address.”

Dot NotationDot Notation

The unique “address” of an objectFrom L to R, start with the most

general, moving to the object itself

window.document.myForm.fName.valuewindow.document.myForm.fName.value

Browser Window

The Current Page

Form Name

Field Name

ValueProperty

Input using Text FieldsInput using Text FieldsName the formName all fieldsUse dot notation to reference specific

fieldsStraight-forward, similar to how we

reference variablesOther objects that use the same

syntax:◦ textarea◦ password field◦ hidden

Input using Check BoxesInput using Check BoxesName the formName all fieldsUse dot notation to reference specific

fieldsUsed the “checked” instead of the

“value” propertyReturns a Boolean value:

◦ true◦ false

Use if structure to evaluate

DOM and ArraysDOM and ArraysFor some form objects, we need to

use a new type of data structure – an array.

What is an array?◦An array is a data structure that can

hold multiple values (unlike a variable, which can only hold 1 value at a time).

◦An array is useful when we work with groups of form objects, like radio buttons

Arrays and MemoryArrays and MemoryIn a computer’s memory, an

array represents multiple contiguous locations that all contain the values of the same data type.

We represent each “slot” in an array with a number:◦Numbers start at zero. ◦An element’s position (represented

by a number) is called an index (or subscript)

Why use Arrays?Why use Arrays?Use an array when you need to

group values by some common characteristic (e.g. – Students in a classroom).

When designing an application that performs the same processing for multiple sets of data, use an array and a looping structure.

Conceptual Example of Conceptual Example of ArraysArrays

00 JohnJohn

11 MaryMary

22 ElizabethElizabeth

33 OmarOmar

44 CharlesCharles

55 RaviRavi

66 KatherineKatherine

77 HannahHannah

88 AlexanderAlexander

99 WilliamWilliam

Array Positions (Elements) –Each number represents the subscript (index) of its corresponding position

Array Values –The value stored in contiguous memory cells

Array Name = Class

Array ElementsArray ElementsElements populate an array.Each element is a discrete value.We identify elements using a

unique index (the element’s “address”).

Array index numbering starts with zero and increments by one for each new element.

Declaring an ArrayDeclaring an ArrayTo declare an array in JavaScript,

we use the array constructor and assign the array to a variable. We give the constructor the size of the array as an argument:var n341Class = new Array(34);

At times, we may not know the size of the array when declaring. In such situations, we can declare an empty array:var n341Class = new Array();

Adding Values to an ArrayAdding Values to an ArrayTo add values to an array, assign

the new values while also identifying the index where you want JavaScript to store the new value:n341Class[0] = “Jennifer”;n341Class[0] = “Jennifer”;n341Class[1] = “Joseph”;n341Class[1] = “Joseph”;n341Class[2] = “Marcus”;n341Class[2] = “Marcus”;n341Class[3] = “Alex”;n341Class[3] = “Alex”;

Using a For Loop to Add Using a For Loop to Add ValuesValuesIn some instances, we can use a

for loop to add values:for(var i=0; i<10; i++){

var newStudent = new String(“”);

newStudent = “Student”;newStudent = i.toString();n341Class[i] = newStudent;

}

Parallel (Corresponding) Parallel (Corresponding) ArraysArraysParallel arrays gives you the ability to

store multiple pieces of information about a single entity in an application.

The indexes of each array should correspond to one another for individual entities:◦ Student ID◦ Student Name◦ Student Exam Score

Conceptual Example of Conceptual Example of Parallel ArraysParallel Arrays

00 047254047254

11 038546038546

22 024136024136

33 057866057866

44 015543015543

55 025769025769

66 025119025119

77 035176035176

88 036585036585

99 028116028116

Arr

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str

SID

00 JohnJohn

11 MaryMary

22 ElizabethElizabeth

33 OmarOmar

44 CharlesCharles

55 RaviRavi

66 KatherineKatherine

77 HannahHannah

88 AlexanderAlexander

99 WilliamWilliam

00 9393

11 8686

22 7474

33 9292

44 5656

55 8282

66 8989

77 8282

88 7575

99 7777

Arr

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str

N341C

lass

Arr

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Creating Parallel ArraysCreating Parallel ArraysTo create parallel arrays, just

create them as you would any other array:var SID = new Array();var n341Class = new Array(); var examScr = new Array();

The arrays are separate arrays in memory, but your program should treat them as one …

Assigning Values to Parallel Assigning Values to Parallel ArraysArrays

To assign values for a single entity to parallel arrays, use the same index number for each assignment:SID[5] = “025769”;n341Class[5] = “Ravi”;examScr[5] = 82;

The Array.length PropertyThe Array.length PropertyJust like any JavaScript objects,

arrays have properties.One of the most useful properties

is the length property, which will give you a count of how many indexes the array has.

The Array.length PropertyThe Array.length PropertyExample of the Array.length property:var golfScores = new Array();var golfScrSize = 0;

golfScores[0] = 72;golfScores[1] = 85;golfScores[2] = 125;

//golfScrSize will get the//value of 3golfScrSize = golfScores.length;

Using Array.lengthUsing Array.lengthThe following code averages the

values stored in an arrayfor(var i=0; i<golfScores.length; i++){

sumScores += golfScores[i]}avgScore = sumScores/golfScores.length;

Array ExamplesArray Examples

Single Array

Parallel Arrays

Input using Radio ButtonsInput using Radio ButtonsName the form.Name the group (each button of

the same group has the same name)

Assign each button a “value” property.

Use an if structure nested in a for loop to evaluate each button.

Input using Selection Input using Selection ObjectsObjectsSimilar to radios (use an array to

evaluate)No need for a loop because there is

only one object rather than several options.

Name the formName the select objectAssign each option a “value”

property

Outputting to WindowsOutputting to WindowsUse a functionCreate a new window using the open()

method of the window object.The open() method takes the following

parameters:◦ URL◦ Name of the window object◦ Window properties:

Size Menus? Toolbars?

Outputting to Windows - ExamplesOutputting to Windows - Examples

Example 1

Example 2

Questions?Questions?

ResourcesResourcesFlanagan, David. JavaScript: The

Definitive Guide, 4th Edition. O’Reilly, 2002.