JavaScript Statements
A JavaScript statement is a command to a browser. The purpose of the command is
to tell the browser what to do.
The following JavaScript statement tells the browser to write “Hello Dolly” to the
Web page:
document.write("Hello Dolly");
It is normal to add a semicolon at the end of each executable statement. Most
people think this is a good programming practice, and most often you will see this
in JavaScript examples on the Web.
The semicolon is optional (according to the JavaScript standard), and the browser
is supposed to interpret the end of the line as the end of the statement. You often
will see examples without the semicolon at the end.
JavaScript Code
JavaScript code (or just JavaScript) is a sequence of JavaScript statements. Each
statement is executed by the browser in the sequence it is written.
This example will write a heading and two paragraphs to a Web page as shown in
Figure 2.1.
Try it yourself >>
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write("<h1>This is a heading</h1>");
document.write("<p>This is a paragraph.</p>");
document.write("<p>This is another paragraph.</p>");
</script>
</body>
</html>
JavaScript Blocks
JavaScript statements can be grouped together in blocks. Blocks start with a left
curly bracket { and end with a right curly bracket }.
The purpose of a block is to make the sequence of statements execute together.
The following example writes a heading and two paragraphs to a Web page as
shown in Figure 2.2.
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
{
document.write("<h1>This is a heading</h1>");
document.write("<p>This is a paragraph.</p>");
document.write("<p>This is another paragraph.</p>");
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
The preceding example is not very useful. It just demonstrates the use of a block.
Normally, a block is used to group statements together in a function or in a condition
(in which a group of statements should be executed if a condition is met).
JavaScript Comments
JavaScript comments can be added to explain the JavaScript script or to make the
code more readable.
Single line comments start with //.
The following example uses single-line comments to explain the code.
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
// Write a heading
document.write("<h1>This is a heading</h1>");
// Write two paragraphs:
document.write("<p>This is a paragraph.</p>");
document.write("<p>This is another paragraph.</p>");
</script>
</body>
</html>
JavaScript Multiline Comments
Multiline comments start with /* and end with */.
The following example uses a multiline comment to explain the code.
Your result is shown in Figure 2.4.
Try it yourself >>
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
/*
The code below will write
one heading and two paragraphs
*/
document.write("<h1>This is a heading</h1>");
document.write("<p>This is a paragraph.</p>");
document.write("<p>This is another paragraph.</p>");
</script>
</body>
</html>
Using Comments to Prevent Execution
In the following example, the comment is used to prevent the execution of a single
code line (can be suitable for debugging):
Your result is shown in Figure 2.5.
Try it yourself >>
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
//document.write("<h1>This is a heading</h1>");
document.write("<p>This is a paragraph.</p>");
document.write("<p>This is another paragraph.</p>");
</script>
</body>
</html>
In the following example, the comment is used to prevent the execution of a code
block (can be suitable for debugging):
Try it yourself >>
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
/*
document.write("<h1>This is a heading</h1>");
document.write("<p>This is a paragraph.</p>");
document.write("<p>This is another paragraph.</p>");
*/
</script>
</body>
</html>
Your result would be a blank screen.
Using Comments at the End of a Line
In the following example, the comment is placed at the end of a code line. Your
result is shown in Figure 2.6.
Try it yourself >>
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write("Hello"); // Write "Hello"
document.write(" Dolly!"); // Write " Dolly!"
</script>
</body>
</html>