Editor Support for JavaScript and CSS

Take advantage of full syntax highlighting, code completion, pop-up documentation, and error checking for CSS and JavaScript, including JavaScript 1.7 and semantic highlighting for E4X (embedded XML objects). The visual CSS editor allows you to edit CSS rules and preview the results.

The Editor recognizes JavaScript code in stand-alone JavaScript files as well as in HTML, RHTML, and JSP files. The HTML Palette contains handy code snippets for forms and tables.
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JavaScript Debugging

The NetBeans IDE also comes with a JavaScript debugger based on the Firebug plugin for Firefox. When using the JavaScript Editor, the IDE provides you with browser-compatibility information, depending on the browser types and versions you specify in the JavaScript Options panel.

Ajax development

The NetBeans JavaScript and CSS editors are the perfect choice for Ajax development. The NetBeans IDE also comes with a client-side monitor to examine HTTP messages, an Ajax-ready environment for your choice of server-side scripting language (e.g., JSP, PHP, Ruby, Groovy), out-of-the-box support for MySQL and Java DB, and extensive integration support for web frameworks and third-party JavaScript toolkits.

Toolkit Integration

The NetBeans JavaScript editor provides code completion and integrated documentation for popular toolkits such as jQuery, Script.aculo.us, Prototype, etc. Download your favorite JavaScript toolkits, copy the files into your project, and the editor will automatically recognize them. The JavaScript Library Manager is available from the Update Center (Tools > Plugins).

Web Application Learning Trail