February 8, 2023 in Learn
How to Manipulate Classes Using the JavaScript classList API
Something that comes up often when building front-end web applications is the need to change the classes applied to an element. For some time elements have had a className attribute which allows you to retrieve a string containing the class…
December 21, 2022 in Learn
How to Memorize Codes: Tips & Tricks
One of the most common questions I get from students is: “What’s the best way to retain what I’m learning?” Students may think they understand the lessons and concepts being taught, but later struggle putting it all into practice. Writing…
November 25, 2022 in Learn
How To Create Autocomplete Dropdowns with the Datalist Element
The <datalist> element is a new addition in the HTML5 specification. The <datalist> element allows developers to create native autocomplete dropdowns for their web applications. This type of user interface component is used on form fields and search boxes as…
November 25, 2022 in Learn
How to Store Data in LocalStorage in JavaScript
The LocalStorage API gives front-end web developers access to a simple key-value datastore that can be used to save data on a user’s computer. Saving data on the client side can help speed up the performance of your web applications…
September 28, 2022 in Learn
Creating Custom HTML
(Photo by Kenny Louie / Flickr) An exciting feature of the HTML specification is creating custom HTML elements. These allow you to create your own HTML elements along with their own JavaScript API. This can be useful when building interfaces with reused…
June 25, 2019 in Learn
What Is A Web Browser?
What comes to mind when you think of visiting a web page? It might not work quite the way you assume. And in order to code, you’ve got to learn to think the way your browser does. What is a…
May 23, 2019 in Learn
Tech Jobs: An Explainer
Did you know? 1.3 million new developer jobs will be created in the next 10 years. No matter your background or previous experience, there’s never been a better time to start your journey toward one of these high-paying careers. But…
February 16, 2016 in Learn
HTML and CSS: Still Relevant for Designers
If you’re a designer trying to stay current you may be feeling some pressure to learn one of the many new web programming languages that are “hot” right now (React, Angular, etc.). Not only because these languages are gaining in…
July 14, 2015 in Learn
Learn How: Programmatically Open File Downloads in a New Window with JavaScript
Have you ever wanted a way to update all file download links on your site to have the behavior of opening a new browser window? This is a better user flow than having the user follow the link and then…
December 2, 2014 in Learn
HTML5 Local Storage
HTML5’s local storage feature allows the browser to store and retrieve specific data. In this post, we’ll pick up where we left off in the previous post where we built a real-time CSS editor using the HTML5 contenteditable attribute. Now we’re…
April 3, 2014 in Learn
How to Evaluate Front-End Code for Inefficiencies
There’s more to writing good front-end code than knowing every HTML tag, CSS selector, or the latest front-end features and techniques. And as I mentioned in a recent blog post, writing good code takes a lot of patience and practice….
March 25, 2014 in Learn
Building HTML5 Context Menus
A lesser known feature of the HTML5 specification is context menus. These allow you to add custom items to the menu that appears when a user right-clicks on the page. Using JavaScript, you can then control the actions these items…