When and where to use Javascript
I set my browser to ask whenever a script loaded - just to see how many people were running them. Then I went browsing around. There were some sites that asked about 10 times, most wanted to load at least 2 or 3 scripts, and a very few didn't load any. The ones that wanted to load around 10 were the same sites I've been avoiding lately, because they tend to lock up my system. On all of the script-heavy sites, it was completely impossible to navigate with scripts refused, and in many cases the home page became blank. The ones with 2 or 3 varied, some just were using the scripts to pretty up their pages, some were useless without the scripts.
I have no objection at all to using a javacript to brighten up your site, They can be quite cute! But please, use them in moderation, and don't ever ever require them for anything important! Unless you are an online game site, and you are running java games, or you have some similar excuse, there is absolutely no reason to require javascript to be enabled, and a number of reasons not to. If you are a business especially, and trying to sell your product online, don't risk losing your customers.
You may, of course, ignore me if you are a site that sells javascript, or writes it, but even then, I'd use moderation. Here's my list of reasons not to use Java for navigation and other important things, or at least to provide an alternate way around your site, alternate ordering methods, and so forth.
- Webtv. Yes, I know you probably think that most people have webtv because they can't afford anything better, and you don't want them on your site anyway. Try again. Almost everyone I've met that has webtv bought it because it is easy to use, and they find computers a bit scary. A lot of them are older, retirees, and really enjoy shopping around on the web. And have lots of money.
- Older computers and browsers. "But if they can't afford a new one, they can't afford my product." Well, just because someone has something better to buy than yet another computer or a software/memory upgrade does not mean that they might not be interested in your product. Maybe they'd rather take that $5,000 cruise you are offering, or buy luxury goods for their spouse!
- A lot of company web sites have javascript (and other scripts) disabled. Do you really want to discourage the CEO of Fortune 500 company X from browsing around your site? Or worse yet, discourage their purchasing agent?
- You say it makes your page look better? That's nice, but how good does your page look to someone who can't see it at all?
There are some good reasons to use javascripts, they can be very useful, just don't depend on them! I like quite a few of the animation effects and there are some very useful scripts for other page enhancements. Just remember not everyone has, or wants, the top of the line system, and make allowances for those that can't or won't use javascript.
So if you do want to use javascript:
1)There are some really great scripts out there to liven up your page - and some freeware simple game scripts as well. Play with a few and see if you like them.
2) There are some very useful scripts that you can use: menus, mail redirects, and other handy things (just give alternates if you do use them).
3) Don't use more than a couple of scripts on any given page, and test them with every browser you can first.
4) Make allowances for those who can't and don't use javascript, or any other script or plugin.
The same idea goes for other scripts, such as Visual Bbasic, DirectX, Flash, and the rest. They are fine to enhance a page, but don't ever depend on them. Many of your visitors will be unwilling or unable to use them.