JavaScript: The Definitive Guide, Fourth Edition

Chapter 23. Core JavaScript Reference

This part of the book is a reference section that documents the classes, methods, and properties defined by the core JavaScript language. The introduction and sample reference page explain how to use and get the most out of this reference section. Take the time to read this material carefully, and you will find it easier to locate and use the information you need!

This reference section is arranged alphabetically. The reference pages for the methods and properties of classes are alphabetized by their full names, which include the names of the classes that define them. For example, if you want to read about the replace( ) method of the String class, you would look under “String.replace,” not just “replace.”

Core JavaScript defines some global functions and properties, such as eval( ) and NaN. Technically, these are properties of a global object. Since the global object has no name, however, they are listed in this reference section under their own unqualified names. For convenience, the full set of global functions and properties in core JavaScript is summarized in a special reference page named “Global” (even though there is no object or class by that name).

Sometimes you may find that you don’t know the name of the class or interface that defines the method or property want to look up, or you may not be sure which of the three reference sections to look up a class or interface in. Part VI of this book is a special index designed to help with ...