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JavaScript JavaScript Basics (Retired) Introducing JavaScript Link to an External Script

Posted by A X
A X
12,842 Points

Javascript Basics Syntax Question on Challenge & Question about Code Challenge Behavior

I'm working on one of the early Javascript challenges (the one using shout.js), and I'm more interested in why the syntax is the way it is. I'm use to other language formats looking more like:

<html><img src= " "></html>

whereas in Javascript it looks like this:

<script src = "shout.js" ></script>

Why does Javascript allow the src (source) inside the beginning tags (I'm sure I'm using the wrong vocab word to describe what script is called)....

I also noticed something curious that I've never experienced before when doing code challenges with Javascript, that the program actually runs on my browser. Why is the code "activating" (again I'm probably off on the vocab) in Javascript but not in say HTML, CSS, SQL, or Java?

1 Answer

Damien Watson
Damien Watson
27,419 Points
Damien Watson
Damien Watson
27,419 Points

Hi, the first example you provided is an image to be displayed inside html so you are saying import the image at location 'src' into the page.

<img src="...">

The second example is doing a similar thing, importing the javascript located at 'src' into the page.

<script src="shout.js"></script>

Coding Javascript in the page, you would not have the 'src' because you are not importing the javascript.

<script>
  alert("Example");
</script>

I have also noticed that the code runs, I believe it to be a by product. In the challenge the code is loaded in, because it is loaded, it executes (runs).