Just over a month ago, I blogged about the benefits of unobtrusive JavaScript, and how it helps not only produce standards-compliant HTML and CSS, but additionally creates a framework for creating applications that is extensible and reusable.

In this installment of this series, I would like to build on this idea a bit. As you delve into unobtrusive JavaScript, you will soon learn that generifying your JavaScript functions becomes unavoidable. Yes, I said "generifying." Let me explain.

Using inline JavaScript usually means one of two things: A.) you have a one-off function that you need to fire, and you just want to get something working NOW. Or B.) you've not really investigated unobtrusive JavaScript very thoroughly, and are content with using inline calls for even the most complicated functions.

If A.) is the scenario, as your application grows and you need more functionality from your JavaScript, life is going to suck very quickly because you're going to have to do a lot of backtracking to catch up all those inline calls to match any changes you've made to accomodate new functionality. And if you're one of the B.)'ers, you'll have to do what the A.)'s are stuck doing, plus you'll have some major More >