Includes Index.

Annotation As a JavaScript developer, you will already be aware of some of the time saving, convenience, and functionality provided to you by JavaScript/Ajax libraries in general.Prototypeand its sister effects library,script.aculo.us, are among the most popular and best–supported JavaScript libraries, and now Prototype Core team memberAndrew Duponthas written this book to provide you with an essential guide to getting the most out of using Prototype and script.aculo.us.Practical Prototype and script.aculo.uswill help you leverage the Prototype and script.aculo.us libraries to enhance your day–to–day work, speeding up mundane tasks and providing advanced user interface effects in a way that is cross–browser compliant—taking many worries off your shoulders. Take a whirlwind tour of the different time–saving functions and features Prototype provides and how it extends the basic JavaScript objects, including events, Ajax techniques, DOM elements, enumerables, and advanced object-oriented programming. Understand how script.aculo.us fits into the wider world of DOM Scripting/DHTML; find out how to use it to enhance your user interfaces quickly and effectively, with UI controls, effects, and drag and drop; and discover Prototype and script.aculo.us as a platform.The author avoids needless theory and rhetoric throughout the book, moving you through the topics at a fast pace. He incorporates several real–world examples to help you gain valuable practical experience as you learn.Practical Prototype and script.aculo.usis completely up to date and features server–side examples written in PHP that show the framework can be used effectively in more environments than just Ruby on Rails.Master all the convenience functions of Prototype to speed up your JavaScript/Ajax developmentLeverage script.aculo.us to turbo charge your dynamic UIsLearn from JavaScript expert Andrew Dupont, one of the Prototype Core team membersWhat you’ll learnHow to use all of the basic timesaving/convenience functions of PrototypeHow to use enumberables to speed up looping, arrays, etc.How to enhance your Ajax applications with PrototypeHow Prototype makes working with events and DOM elements a cinchHow script.aculo.us fits into DOM Scripting/DHTMLHow to make use of the basic effects available in script.aculo.usMastery of user interface controls and drag and drop in script.aculo.usHow to treat Prototype and script.aculo.us as a platformHow to use Prototype and script.aculo.us effectively with PHP and other server–side setups besides Ruby on RailsWho this book is forThis book is for any JavaScript developer who wants to employ Prototype/script.aculo.us in his or her day–to–day work.