Javascript Functionality
Javascript is a coding language which allows you to add bells and whistles to a website to do something special. There are limits to what javascript can do, but within those limitations is a huge list of possibilities to add extra functions to your website and make it look more interesting (ie. the moving background on this page).
Javascript can do a wide range of functions including math calculations, forms, image effects, background effects and navigational tools. You can even create games and complex functions using Javascript
Of course not every website needs this level of functionality. It is just a fancier way to show images, use links and create navigation that works. Such bells and whistles are just a side dish to website design, something to make the website more interesting.
Note - While Javascript functions are certainly fun to add to websites, many websites now avoid using them due to issues concerning browser compatibility, the increased use of phones/tablets (particularly Apple products) which don't allow Javascript, and as such while Javascript is useful and interesting, it is increasingly becoming obsolete due to more websites being designed to be mobile friendly. Thus these days we usually recommend clients to avoid using Javascript, unless they insist upon having some sort of Javascript function on their website, in which case they run the risk of not every visitor being able to see or use the function.
To learn more about how we can use Javascript to improve the look and feel of your website email us as contactus@designseo.ca.
The following is a short list of some of the functions you can add to a website's pages, depending upon what your goal is:
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Adjust Colours
Age Redirection
Alert messages
Animated Tabs
AutoClose PopUps
Auto Redirects
Back Buttons
Background Changes
Breadcrumb Navigation
Bouncing Images
Cascading Menus
Category Menus
Collapsible Menus with Memory
Countdown Redirects
Custom Cursors
Custom PopUps
Daily MP3s
Date and Time Effects
Day Redirection
Delayed PopUps
Drag and Drop Menus
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Dynamic Image Galleries
Email Boxes
Expanding Window
Fading Background
Fading Rollover
Fireworks
Floating Logo
Floating Menus
Forms
Full Screen Mode
Games
Highlight Text
Indent Menus
Jump Menus
Key Launchers
Link Annotations
Link Arrays
Link of the Day
Monthly Pages
Music Streaming
Navigational Buttons
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New Windows
PopUp Menus
Pulldown Menus
Quick Preview
Radio Buttons
Random Backgrounds
Random Colours
Random Images
Random Pages
Random Text / Links
Remote Control
Rotating Banners
Rotating Images
Scrolling Menus
Selective Links
Shimmering Links
Sliding Backgrounds
Sliding Menus
Snow
Surveys
Tickers
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And that is just a taste of what Javascript can do to enhance your website. To learn more email just email designSEO to setup an in-person consultation.
Why Mobile Devices are Killing Javascript-based Websites
Mobile Devices such as smartphones and tablets are dramatically changing the landscape for websites. These days it is now more important for websites to be accessible and usable via mobile devices. However this means that Javascript isn't needed so much and is effectively becoming obsolete.
JavaScript is a programming language commonly used in web development to enhance interactivity and functionality on websites. While JavaScript remains a vital tool for creating dynamic and interactive web experiences, the growing emphasis on mobile accessibility has shifted the priorities in website design, making JavaScript somewhat less important in certain contexts. Here's why:
Mobile-First Design:
With the increasing dominance of mobile devices, website designers are now adopting a mobile-first approach. This approach involves prioritizing the design and development of websites for mobile devices before addressing desktop or other platforms. Mobile devices typically have limited processing power, smaller screens, and different interaction patterns compared to desktop computers. Consequently, developers have to consider optimizing the performance and user experience on mobile devices, which may require minimizing the reliance on heavy JavaScript functionalities.
Performance and Load Times:
Mobile devices often operate with limited resources, slower internet connections, and smaller data plans. In such environments, it becomes crucial to optimize website performance and minimize data usage. Excessive use of JavaScript can lead to longer load times and increased data consumption, which can negatively impact the user experience on mobile devices. To ensure faster load times and smoother browsing experiences, website designers often prioritize lightweight designs and minimize the use of JavaScript-heavy functionalities.
Progressive Enhancement:
Progressive enhancement is an approach that focuses on building websites that work reliably across different devices, browsers, and network conditions. It involves creating a solid foundation of core functionality that is accessible to all users and then adding additional enhancements, including JavaScript interactions, on top of that foundation. This approach ensures that websites remain accessible and functional even if JavaScript is disabled or not supported by the user's device or browser. By prioritizing progressive enhancement, website designers can provide a consistent user experience across a wide range of devices, including mobile ones.
Mobile-Friendly Frameworks:
Over the years, frameworks and libraries like Bootstrap, Foundation, and Materialize have gained popularity for creating responsive and mobile-friendly websites. These frameworks offer pre-designed components and responsive layouts that automatically adapt to different screen sizes, reducing the need for extensive JavaScript coding. By leveraging these frameworks, developers can build mobile-friendly websites without relying heavily on custom JavaScript code.
While the emphasis on mobile accessibility has somewhat shifted the balance, it's important to note that JavaScript still plays a crucial role in many aspects of website design. It enables interactive elements, dynamic content updates, form validation, asynchronous data loading, and much more. Furthermore, JavaScript remains indispensable for developing mobile applications using technologies like React Native or Progressive Web Apps.
In summary, while the growing emphasis on mobile accessibility has influenced website design priorities, JavaScript remains an essential tool for creating interactive web experiences. The key lies in striking the right balance between delivering engaging functionalities and ensuring optimal performance and accessibility on mobile devices.
This changing online landscape means that we now discourage clients from getting any Javascript bells and whistles for their website because the mobile audience is so much more important and growing.
