Return to JavaScript Version History, JavaScript-ECMAScript

JavaScript 1.1, released in 1996, was a significant update that followed the original version of JavaScript, introduced by Netscape Communications. It was developed to enhance web interactivity and included several new features and fixes to address the limitations of its predecessor. This version of JavaScript laid the groundwork for future developments in web scripting. However, given the era in which JavaScript 1.1 was released, the request for GitHub repos, official documentation links, and the like presents challenges due to the historical context. Documentation was largely distributed through printed manuals and early web documents, many of which have not been preserved in the formats we use today.

Below, I'll summarize the key aspects and features introduced in JavaScript 1.1, along with conceptual comparisons to contemporary technologies where applicable. Please note, due to the historical nature of JavaScript 1.1, direct URLs to language documentation, GitHub repositories, official websites, and specific Wikipedia entries related to this version may not be readily available or exist in a modern context.

JavaScript 1.1 was released as part of Netscape Navigator 3. It introduced improvements that enhanced web page interactivity and user experience. This version included error handling, new string methods, and better control over the browser.

JavaScript 1.1 introduced basic error handling capabilities, allowing developers to catch and respond to errors in scripts.

Example: ```javascript if (document.images) {

   // Code to execute if the browser supports images

   // Error handling

In modern languages:

- **TypeScript**: Provides comprehensive error handling with support for custom error types. - **Java**: Uses try-catch blocks for error handling. - **Python**: Uses try-except blocks, similar to JavaScript's if-else error checking.

New string manipulation methods were added, such as `indexOf()` and `substring()`, improving the ability to handle and process text data.

Example: ```javascript var str = “Hello, world!”; var pos = str.indexOf(“world”); ```

- **TypeScript**: Inherits JavaScript's string methods, with type-safe operations. - **Java**: `String` class in Java has similar methods, like `indexOf()` and `substring()`. - **Python**: String handling in Python is highly flexible with methods like `find()` and slicing.

JavaScript 1.1 enabled dynamic manipulation of images, allowing for client-side image swapping and feedback.

Example: ```javascript document.images[0].src = “newImage.gif”; ```

- **TypeScript**: Direct manipulation of DOM elements, including images. - **Java**: JavaFX and Swing for desktop applications have similar concepts for image handling. - **Python**: Web frameworks like Django and Flask use server-side rendering to manipulate images, with JavaScript handling the client-side.

This version introduced the ability to validate form input before submission, enhancing user feedback and data integrity.

Example: ```javascript if (form.inputField.value == “”) {

   alert("Field cannot be empty.");

- **TypeScript**: Provides form validation through DOM manipulation and can use libraries for more complex validations. - **Java**: Server-side validation in web applications, often using frameworks like Spring MVC. - **Python**: Flask and Django offer form validation on the server side, with JavaScript handling client-side validation.

JavaScript 1.1 introduced support for cookies, allowing websites to store data on the client's computer for persistent state management.

Example: ```javascript document.cookie = “username=John Doe”; ```

- **TypeScript**: Has the same capability to manipulate cookies as JavaScript. - **Java**: Java web applications handle cookies on the server side with HttpServletRequest and HttpServletResponse. - **Python**: Web frameworks manage cookies server-side, with support for secure and HTTPOnly flags.

JavaScript 1.1 was a pivotal release that expanded the capabilities of web pages, making them more interactive and dynamic. It introduced foundational concepts that continue to influence web development. As web technologies have evolved, modern languages and frameworks have built upon these concepts, offering more robust solutions and features.

While direct links to documentation and repositories for JavaScript 1.1 are scarce due to its age, the [Mozilla Developer Network (MDN)](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript) provides comprehensive documentation on JavaScript as it exists today. For a historical overview, the [JavaScript Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JavaScript) offers insights into the evolution of the language.

This summary provides a glimpse into JavaScript 1.1's contributions to web development and its lasting impact on the technologies that followed, illustrating the evolution from simple scripts to the complex web applications we build today.