The Navigator Event Model: Introduction - Doc JavaScript

The Navigator Event Model

User actions in JavaScript are called events. The browser constantly monitors document elements that are capable of reacting to user actions. You can write scripts that perform a given task when a specific event occurs, based on where the event occurred, and other relevant attributes. Netscape Navigator 4.0x and Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0x introduce new events, new elements that support events, and an entirely new event model. The event model connects actions (events) that occur on the page with scripts, so you can design interactive web pages. In this column we'll discuss the event model as implemented in Netscape Navigator (we'll cover Microsoft Internet Explorer's event model in the next column). You'll find out:

1. How to utilize traditional event handlers with the attribute approach.
2. How to utilize event handlers with the property assignment approach.
3. How to capture and release events at a high level.
4. How to process captured events.
5. How to design event processing functions.
6. How to pass an event to a specific object.
7. How to drop an event through the hierarchy.
8. How to access the event object for a specific event.
9. How to use the event object's properties.
10. How to use Navigator 4.0x's new and revised events.
11. How to use the new mouse events.
12. How to use the new keyboard events.