40 Excellent Resources for JavaScript Coders
Are you an advanced JavaScript coder looking for more sites to sharpen your coding prowess? Maybe you’re a web designer wanting to double as a developer (or at least know enough to add a bit of rich content into your designs). Either way, if you’re looking for more information on the topic of JavaScript, the following resources are worth a gander.
Reference, Resources, & Tutorials
DevGuru – JavaScript Quick Reference
DevGuru provides an extensive list of JavaScript syntax, alphabetized similar to a glossary for easy scanning and searching.
TechCheatSheets.com – Javascript Cheat Sheets
A roundup of 10 JavaScript cheat sheets in one place; includes cheatsheets for frameworks such as jQuery and Prototype.
Google Groups – comp.lang.javascript
If you’re looking for a community of JavaScript’ers comp.lang.javascript is an active and helpful community of developers.
jQuery for Designers
jQuery for Designers is geared towards designers who want to learn about the jQuery library to add more dynamic content in their designs.
Freetechbooks.com – Free Online JavaScript Books
In this collection, you’ll be able to download 5 excellent e-books on the topic of JavaScript, all for free.
DZone
Although not purely a JavaScript resource, DZone regularly features articles, tutorials, resources, and news about JavaScript.
W3Schools – JavaScript Tutorial
W3School’s section on JavaScript offers beginning to advanced JavaScript topics.
15 Days Of jQuery
Straight off the home page, 15 Days of jQuery has "Fantastic tutorials and example code that takes you from zero to hero in no time flat".
The "Mootorial"
//clientside’s tutorial on the mootools framework has a built-in console for you to try out JS code.
Premade Scripts/Code
AjaxDaddy
A collection of downloadable DHTML scripts. AjaxDaddy provides a demo for the featured scripts.
MiniAjax.com
Another site with a collection of DHTML and Ajax code, similar to AjaxDaddy.
JavaScript Kit
Here, you’ll find downloadable scripts, as well as tutorials and guides on JavaScript.
Dynamic Drive JavaScript code library
DHTML scripts organized into 16 categories including Calendars, Image Effects, Links & Tooltips, and more.
DHTMLgoodies.com
Yet another place to get your fix of DHTML/Ajax scripts. They also have a fairly nice and straight-forward Ajax basics tutorial.
4umi useful Javascript
A "database" of useful scripts and code snipplets that are updated fairly often.
Articles & Blog Posts
The Most Complete AJAX Framework and JavaScript Libraries List(124+)
The title pretty much says it all — it’s a huge list of JS frameworks/libraries.
The seven rules of unobtrusive JavaScript
This excellent article outlines seven things to keep in mind when trying to develop unobtrusive JavaScript solutions.
How simple is making your javascript unobtrusive? Easy as Pie.
A basic introductory article on "unobtrusive JavaScript.
The Top 40 Free Ajax & Javascript Code for Web Designers
A list of scripts geared towards web designers (i.e. not a lot of manual coding involved).
How to choose a JavaScript framework
Outlines a few considerations when deciding which JS framework is right for you.
Efficient JavaScript
An article on quick tips for optimizing your JavaScript code.
Ten Javascript Tools Everyone Should Have
A list of JS code snipplets recommended to have in your coding arsenal; among them are numeric sorting and working with cookies.
Serving JavaScript Fast
Optimal tips for serving/loading your JavaScript libraries quickly.
The Great Browser JavaScript Showdown
A comparison of the top 4 web browsers (IE7, Firefox 2, Safari 3.0.4, and Opera 9.5) when it comes to handling JS.
Quick guide to somewhat advanced JavaScript
A guide on Object-Oriented JavaScript coding.
Blogs & News
John Resig – Blog
John Resig is the creator/lead developer of jQuery and author of "Pro Javascript Techniques".
Ajaxian – JavaScript
Ajaxian is a news site about Ajax and Rich Internet Applications. Over 850 stories have been tagged under the JavaScript topic.
Snook.CA – JavaScript Category
Snook.CA is Johnathan Snook‘s site on the topic of web development. He writes about JavaScript, as well as other web dev topics.
Ajaxlines
Ajaxlines provides news and resources on the topic of Ajax. It currently has 140+ posts tagged under JavaScript.
QuirksBlog
QuirksBlog is part of JavaScript guru/web developer Peter-Paul Koch‘s QuirksMode.org. His book ppk on JavaScript is an excellent book to own.
Ajaxonomy – Blogs
Ajaxonomy is a wonderful resource for JavaScript’ers interested in Ajax and other web technologies. It has many posts tagged with JavaScript.
Ajax Bestiary – A JavaScript Field Guide
Ajax Bestiary is a regularly updated blog on JavaScript.
Awesome Frameworks/Libraries
Prototype JavaScript framework
Prototype was one of the first popular frameworks. Several libraries and frameworks are based on Prototype (or still require it).
jQuery
jQuery is lightweight, elegant, and touted as one of the easiest JS frameworks to use.
mootools
My personal favorite.
The Yahoo! User Interface Library (YUI)
A big and extremely robust JavaScript toolkit by Yahoo!.
JavaScriptMVC
JavaScriptMVC is a relatively new but very promising framework that offers a lot of unique components and features not found in other frameworks.
script.aculo.us
A robust effects library that’s been used by top websites such as Digg, Feedburner, and Apple; requires the inclusion of Prototype.
Ext JS
Another solid framework; it does have a restrictive license for commercial purposes. Check out the Web Desktop demo.
MochiKit
MochiKit is a robust library that offers a lot of utility functions and effects classes.
Dojo
Dojo is another framework to consider. visit the Spotlight section on the website to see real companies using Dojo.
Additional Resources
Author’s note – April 16, 2008. After the publication of this article, I recieved several recommendations from readers about additional resources that didn’t make the list. I’d like to add even more excellent JavaScript resources worth taking a look at. I’ll add more as suggestions come along.
- Learning jQuery – a multi-author weblog dedicated to sharing information about jQuery. It’s geared at all levels of JS coders wanting to learn about jQuery.
- Mastering JavaScript — concept and resource guide – A great list of resources pertaining to grokking JS.
Got any other resources you’d like to share with us? Make sure to talk about it in the comments section!
This was published on Apr 10, 2008
23 Comments
Sarah Apr 11 2008
This is a great list.
Tay Apr 13 2008
The list is very useful, thanks for sharing.
Sean O Apr 16 2008
Suggested Addition:
The Learning jQuery blog is a great, regularly-updated resource:
http://www.learningjquery.com/
Rey Bango Apr 16 2008
Hi, one site that you may have overlooked as a top jQuery learning resource for this article:
http://sixrevisions.com/resources/40_resources_for_javascript_coders
is Learning jQuery (http://www.learningjquery.com/). It’s managed and maintained by jQuery team member Karl Swedberg. Would you mind adding it in?
Aybar Apr 18 2008
very good work ;)
thank you
Aybar Apr 18 2008
very good work ;)
thank you
http://www.aybardumlu.com
Marco Apr 22 2008
This list is really useful!
Peter May 10 2008
very useful post.
Furkan May 24 2008
Very good post.
cancel bubble Apr 01 2009
I’d like to suggest adding some books to this list, in particular:
JavaScript The Definitive Guide (Flanagan)
Pro JavaScript Design Patterns (Harmes/Diaz)
Dom Scripting (Keith)
If you’re looking to learn *core* JavaScript (which you should be), these books are must haves.
Paul Jul 01 2009
Another JavaScript library suggestion – dhtmlx library (http://dhtmlx.com), a set of ready Ajax components for building feature rich web interfaces.
Gek Sep 26 2009
thank you man very good
Hiphop Nov 02 2009
I’d like to suggest adding some books to this list, in particular:
JavaScript The Definitive Guide (Flanagan)
Pro JavaScript Design Patterns (Harmes/Diaz)
Dom Scripting (Keith)
If you’re looking to learn *core* JavaScript (which you should be), these books are must haves.
Skidoosh Nov 19 2009
For anyone who’s interested I’ve published V2 of my jQuery reference from one of the articles featured on here. I don’t work there any more so it’s not maintained. If you want to have a look at that it’s here: http://www.skidoosh.co.uk/jquery/jquery-selectors-and-attribute-selectors-reference-and-examples-v2/ I’ll be updating it for 1.3 in a few days.
Hip Hop Nov 22 2009
I’d like to suggest adding some books to this list, in particular:
JavaScript The Definitive Guide (Flanagan)
Pro JavaScript Design Patterns (Harmes/Diaz)
Dom Scripting (Keith)
If you’re looking to learn *core* JavaScript (which you should be), these books are must haves.
Satya Prakash Dec 01 2009
There are few like listapart, which are left. These sites provide original resources.
indir Dec 22 2009
thank you la lae! If you’re looking to learn *core* JavaScript (which you should be), these books are must haves.
Lucas Oct 13 2010
Here you have another site, with a lot of ajax examples
Ajax Examples
Nayan Nov 10 2010
nice composition thanks
Dilip Feb 17 2011
Very nice list.
Akash May 15 2011
Nice Collection Thanks :)
Farhan Ali Jul 22 2011
I am using jqplot lib to draw graph but it taking to much memory and due to that my browser get hanging any Idea to optimize it ??
Đuro Oct 13 2011
This is one more tutorial website:
http://www.tizag.com/javascriptT/
It has many web technologies tutorials including JavaScript. Nice examples too. I used it a lot in the beginning of my work.