JavaScript® Bible, Sixth Edition

Chapter 16. Window and Frame Objects

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Scripting communication among multiple frames

• Creating and managing new windows

• Controlling the size, position, and appearance of the browser window

• Details of window, frame, frameset, and iframe objects

A quick look at the basic document object model diagram in Chapter 14 (see Figure 14-1) reveals that the window object is the outermost, most global container of all document-related objects that you script with JavaScript. All HTML and JavaScript activity takes place inside a window. That window may be a standard Windows, Mac, or XWindows application-style window, complete with scroll bars, toolbars, and other chrome; you can also generate windows that have only some of a typical window's chrome. A frame is also a window, even though a frame doesn't have many accoutrements beyond scroll bars. The window object is where everything begins in JavaScript references to objects. Modern browsers treat the frameset as a special kind of window object, so it is also covered in this chapter.

Of all the objects associated with browser scripting, the window and window-related objects have by far the most object-specific terminology associated with them. This necessitates a rather long chapter to keep the discussion in one place. Use the running footers as a navigational aid through this substantial collection of information.

Window Terminology

The window object is often a source of confusion when you first learn about the document object model. A ...