RE: Definition of "baseline"

AH 

Here are two definitions we should capture

 
Gregg

 -- ------------------------------ 
Gregg C Vanderheiden Ph.D. 

> 
 > can you please explain the difference between a "programming language"
and
 > an "API"?

A programming language is a language in which code is written. Content
can include scripts, and these will only be executed by a user agent
if it supports the programming language in which the script is
written. The script is interpreted rather than compiled code.

An API is a set of interfaces - typically class and function
definitions - provided by a user agent. The DOM is an example of an
API. The same API can be accessed by code written in different
programming languages. Thus, Web content that includes interpreted
code requires that the user agent support both the programming
language and the API's that are used in the script. If the API is
supported but not the programming langauge, the script can't be
interpreted and executed. If the programming language is supported by
not the API, the script can't be run.

Received on Saturday, 9 April 2005 03:14:02 UTC