Hideable Page Areas
There are many other things that can be done with JavaScript. Using AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) one can create controls that, when a uses mouses over or selects a control, the server is sent a request for more information, and the page displays this information. This is all done without going to a new page. The benefit here is that the user doesnt need to scroll back down to the spot (s)he was at.
It is also important to maintain functionality in browsers where the user has disabled JavaScript. AJAX elements should be used for suplemental information only. Or, if used for required aspects of the page, JavaScript free workarounds should be coded in so that the user can still use the page.
It is important to not get carried away with JavaScript and AJAX. The more aspects of a site that depend on these, the more potential problems the site will run into. For instance, JavaScript is interpreted slightly different on different browsers. Additionally, the control functions for various actions have different names across different browsers. When adding JavaScript controls to a site it is imperative that it works in all browsers and that the page continues to function if Javascript is disabled all together. To assist in making accessable pages, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C, international web standards body) has defined a list of standards to which a page should fit. There are 3 levels of accessability, (A, AA and AAA) with AAA being being perfectly accessable in all conditions. The more accessable a page is, it will become less visually involved. Getting a perfect AAA rating is nearly impossible unless you have a plain text page.
Depending on the intended audience for a web page, SoletScripts.com finds a midpoint between 'high-tech eye candy' and accessablity standards. Most sites reach AA accessability, or failing that, come very close to it. All sites are viewed and tested across a plethora of different browsers (20+) in a massive array of different settings. While many web sites do not concern them selves with this level of perfection, SoletScripts.com feels that it's absolutely necessary.
On the next page you will see a technique for maintaining visual appeal and accessability with regard to images containing text.