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Web Script Programming Y2, 20cr

Overview

This unit introduces students to:

1. Client-side programming (inside a web browser) by embedding program scripts in HTML; using those scripts to dynamically modify HTML and CSS; asynchronous reading of information from the server (Ajax).
2. Server-side programming (across the web) by writing server-side scripts accessing server-side files and databases.
3. The reasons for these two forms of programming and the underlying theory. Throughout, particular emphasis is placed on producing contemporary sites using industry best practices.

Aims

1. To develop an understanding of web client and web server scripting technologies and the underlying theory.
2. To develop an ability to write and install simple web server scripts and web client scripts.

Learning Outcomes

1. Design and implement a simple modern web application in industry-standard client-side and server-side languages.

Syllabus

1. Web client-and-server architecture; the concepts of web scripting.
2. Installation of a minimal web server and SQL server; and other support tools.
3. The JavaScript programming language.
4. AJAX for accessing a server-side API to update server-side databases and return information to client-side.
5. The Document Object Model (DOM) — the browser's internal view of a displayed web page.
6. Dynamic HTML (DHTML) — using JavaScript to modify the DOM of the HTML of a current web page.
7. Dynamic CSS (DCSS) — using JavaScript to modify the DOM of the CSS of a current web page.
8. The PHP language; to provide server-side APIs including invoking SQL from PHP scripts.