Sharing JavaScript source code between client-side (inside a browser) and server-side (inside IIS/ASP)

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Client-Side and Server-Side JavaScript

This article presents a trick to reuse the same source code (JavaScript) in client-side (inside a browser) and server-side (inside IIS/ASP).

JavaScript is an amazing language which can be executed in two very different environments; it can run within a browser (client-side) as well as within a Microsoft IIS web server (server-side). Running on client-side, JavaScript is a good workaround for HTML limitations and helps building user-friendly web applications (it's also called Dynamic HTML). Running on server-side, JavaScript enables building dynamic Web pages (for example reading data from a database and presenting it in a Web browser).

Client-Side JavaScript

In order to use JavaScript in client-side context (within a browser like Internet Explorer or Netscape), you have to use the source of the client_script.js.

alert("This is a client-side message");

Server-Side Javascript

To use JavaScript in a server-side context (within Microsoft IIS's ASP engine), you have to use the <%@ %> and <% %> tags:

<%@ language="javascript" %>
<%
  Response.Write("This is a server-side message");
%>

Alternatively, you can use the script tag, with the attribute runat set to "server":

<%@ language="javascript" %>
<script language="javascript" runat="server">
  Response.Write("This is a server-side message");
</script>

And as for a client-side script, you can add the src attribute:

<%@ language="javascript" %>
<script language="javascript" runat="server" src="server_script.js">
</script>

File server_script.js:

Response.Write("This is a server-side message");

Shared-Sides JavaScript

In order to share the same source code between client-side and server-side context, you have to use an external source file (via the src attribute):

FICHIER "client_server_script.asp":

<%@ language="javascript" %> 
<!-- This will load the JAVASCRIPT code into 
     SERVER-SIDE context (no output in browser) --> 
< script language ="javascript" 
  src ="client_server_script.js" runat ="server"></ script > 

<!-- This will call the JAVASCRIPT code 
                      from SERVER-SIDE context --> 
<p> 
Server: 
<% 
Response.Write(client_server_function("TEST FROM SERVER")); 
%> 
</p> 

<!-- This will include the JAVASCRIPT code 
                   into CLIENT-SIDE context --> 
<script language="javascript" src="client_server_script.js">
</script> 

<!-- This will call the JAVASCRIPT code from CLIENT-SIDE 
   context when you click on the button --> 
<p> 
Client: 
<input type="submit" onclick="alert(client_server_function('TEST FROM CLIENT'));"> 
</p>

FICHIER "client_server_script.js"

function client_server_function(strText)
 {
   // Just insert a string before the passed string and return it
   return("client_server_function: "+strText);
 }

When run, this page will output the following:

WARNINGS: Restrictions on a Shared-Sides JavaScript file

You can use only basic JavaScript objects, types, functions and methods in a shared JavaScript file, i.e.:

• You must not put any prefix/declaration tags in the shared source file: no script, <%@ %> or <% %> tags
• You can't use any object, function or method specific to the client-side context (the browser's object model):

  Do not call document, body, frame, alert...

• You can't use any object, function or method specific to the server-side context (the ASP object model):

  Do not call Request, Response, Server...

References

• JavaScript Language Reference 1.5
• JScript .NET Language Reference
• DHTML SCRIPT Element | script Object
• DHTML SRC Attribute | src Property
• Code Declaration Blocks

History

Date posted: June 5th, 2003