FAQ Topic - What is ECMAScript? (2008-10-19)

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FAQ Topic - What is ECMAScript?
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ECMAScript is the international standard for JavaScript. JScript
3.0 and JavaScript 1.5 are
more or less ECMAScript compliant. In addition ECMA 327 defines
the Compact Profile of ECMAScript by describing the features from
ECMA 262 that may be omitted in some resource-constrained
environments. Note that ECMAScript did not attempt to standardize
the document object model.

http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-262.htm

The current edition is ECMA-262, 3rd Edition. There is some
support for this edition in JScript 5.0 and JavaScript 1.3.
JScript 5.5 and JavaScript 1.5, in Netscape 6.1 and later, are
compliant (JavaScript 1.5 in Netscape 6 missed some methods).


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[Dr J R Stockton]

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FAQ Topic - What is ECMAScript?
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ECMAScript is the international standard for JavaScript. JScript
3.0 and JavaScript 1.5 are
more or less ECMAScript compliant. In addition ECMA 327 defines
the Compact Profile of ECMAScript by describing the features from
ECMA 262 that may be omitted in some resource-constrained
environments.

// I would put that 327 sentence last, as a paragraph.
// Is there an ISO version?

Note that ECMAScript did not attempt to standardize
the document object model.

// AFAIR, it does not deal with it.
+ ECMAScript does not cover the document object model.

http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-262.htm

// ISO/IEC 16262 is
// issued by *the* international standards organisation, has fewer
// errors, and might be considered to use a nicer font.
// It is also free as PDF.

The current edition is ECMA-262, 3rd Edition. There is some

// ^ of what?

support for this edition in JScript 5.0 and JavaScript 1.3.
JScript 5.5 and JavaScript 1.5, in Netscape 6.1 and later, are
compliant (JavaScript 1.5 in Netscape 6 missed some methods).

// There, "some support" is not appropriate. It may be that 5.0 &
// 1.3 did not implement everything that 3rd introduced; but surely
// they contain most of what 3rd calls for? In any case, few are
// now interested in those versions?

// DRAFT:

ECMAScript is the international standard for javascript. It does not
cover the Document Object Model. The current published editions are
ECMA-262 3rd Edition (2000) and ISO/IEC 16262 2nd Edition (2002). A
new version is (2008) in development.

http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-262.htm
<ISO link also here>

// I don't think that the support details are necessary; if they are
// wanted, they need to be rewritten with new facts for 2008.

In addition, ECMA-327 defines the Compact Profile of ECMAScript by
describing the features from ECMA-262 that may be omitted in some
resource-constrained environments.
// ISO version of 327?
// If no download link for 327 can be given, and I think anyway,
// links to the ECMA and ISO home, or home-of-ordering, pages might
// be appropriate.

// There is already "What is JScript?"; that could be changed
// into "What are JavaScript and JScript?; that would be a better
// place for the aforementioned support details, if wanted.

 

[dhtml]

[...]

support for this edition in JScript 5.0 and JavaScript 1.3.
JScript 5.5 and JavaScript 1.5, in Netscape 6.1 and later, are
compliant (JavaScript 1.5 in Netscape 6 missed some methods).

// There, "some support" is not appropriate. It may be that 5.0 &
// 1.3 did not implement everything that 3rd introduced; but surely
// they contain most of what 3rd calls for? In any case, few are
// now interested in those versions?

It opens a can of worms. I think linking to Pratap's "JScript
Deviations" pdf in resources is the right thing.

// DRAFT:

ECMAScript is the international standard for javascript. It does not
cover the Document Object Model. The current published editions are
ECMA-262 3rd Edition (2000) and ISO/IEC 16262 2nd Edition (2002). A
new version is (2008) in development.

We have a question:
"What does the future hold for ECMAScript?"

As far as listing 16262, that is in 'Resources'

http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-262.htm
<ISO link also here>

// I don't think that the support details are necessary; if they are
// wanted, they need to be rewritten with new facts for 2008.

It is not practical to provide a list of implementation bugs here.

I should add a link to Pratap's "JScript Deviations" in 'Resources' section.

In addition, ECMA-327 defines the Compact Profile of ECMAScript by
describing the features from ECMA-262 that may be omitted in some
resource-constrained environments.
// ISO version of 327?

I don't know

// If no download link for 327 can be given, and I think anyway,
// links to the ECMA and ISO home, or home-of-ordering, pages might
// be appropriate.

Why?

// There is already "What is JScript?"; that could be changed
// into "What are JavaScript and JScript?; that would be a better
// place for the aforementioned support details, if wanted.

Yes that's redundant.

ECMAScript is the international standard for JavaScript&amp;trade;.
JScript and JavaScript&amp;trade; are implementations of ECMAScript.

<URL>http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-262.htm</URL>

ECMAScript does not define the DOM |document|, the browser |window|
object, or |ActiveXObject|. These are all Host objects.

The current edition is ECMA-262, 3rd Edition.

ECMA-327 "Compact Profile" is a subset of ECMAScript that defines
features that may be omitted in resource-constrained environments.
These features include |with|, |eval|, |Function|, and allowing
modification of built-in objects (String, Date, et c).

<URL>http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-327.htm</URL>

ECMA-357 "E4X" defines a set of programming language extensions
adding native XML support to ECMAScript. E4X is implemented in
JavaScript&amp;trade; 1.6, ActionScript 3, and Adobe Acrobat.
<URL>http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-357.htm</URL>

Garrett

 

[Dr J R Stockton]

It opens a can of worms. I think linking to Pratap's "JScript
Deviations" pdf in resources is the right thing.

To possibly get an opinion on that PDF, give the URL of the current
version.

We have a question:
"What does the future hold for ECMAScript?"

Merge it in this. That can save space.

As far as listing 16262, that is in 'Resources'

Agreed; but it should be in this section.

I don't know

None found

Why?

(a) Authorities should be easy to locate.
(b) So that those who want to buy it can know where to look. But
<http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/
Ecma-327.htm> offers a free PDF. H'mm : I see that my site cites
that.

  ECMA-327 "Compact Profile" is a subset of ECMAScript that defines
  features that may be omitted in resource-constrained environments.
  These features include |with|, |eval|, |Function|, and allowing
  modification of built-in objects (String, Date, et c).

AFAIR, 327 has never been mentioned in CLJ except in reference to the
FAQ. A search reveals just a few cases. I doubt whether those two
lines of detail are worth having there.

Wikipedia "ECMAScript" has various links : link to that Wiki page?

 

[Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn]

The appropriate wording is:

ECMAScript is the international standard that current language
implementations (JavaScript, JScript etc.) are based on.


PointedEars