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

Posted by tanisha hudson
tanisha hudson
3,128 Points

Javascript file linked to html

Is this a typo? the challenge says to link a javascript file to html. However, it suggests to type it in the body tag. Shouldn't this be written in the head tag?

index.html 
<!DOCTYPE HTML>
<html>
<head>
  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
  <title>JavaScript Basics</title>
</head>
<body>

</body>
</html>
shout.js 
alert("HEY, YOU'RE LEARNING TO PROGRAM JAVASCRIPT!");

1 Answer

Sean Walsh
Sean Walsh
8,302 Points
Sean Walsh
Sean Walsh
8,302 Points

Best practice is normally to include scripts right before the closing body tag. This is due to how HTML renders in your browser.

This, of course, is not always the case, but if you don't know where it goes and it is javascript, chances are it should go at the end. This avoids accidentally referencing something in javascript that hasn't been created in the DOM by the browser. The browser renders from the top down, and you want the full DOM to be available when javascript scripts are running.

Again, be aware that this isn't a 100% rule and there are ways to postpone your scripts loading from the head section.