Chapter 1. Introduction to third-party JavaScript
This chapter covers
- Explaining third-party JavaScript
- Real-world examples of third-party applications
- Walk-through implementation of a simple embedded widget
- Identifying third-party development challenges
Third-party JavaScript is a pattern of JavaScript programming that enables the creation of highly distributable web applications. Unlike regular web applications, which are accessed at a single web address (http://yourapp.com), these applications can be arbitrarily loaded on any web page using simple JavaScript includes.
You’ve probably encountered third-party JavaScript before. For example, consider ad scripts, which generate and display targeted ads on publisher websites. Ad scripts might not be a hit with users, but they help web publishers earn revenue and stay in business. They’re visible on millions of websites, and yet nearly all of them are third-party scripts, served from separate ad servers.