I just purchased the book learning jQuery 1.3 however it does state that I should have some knowledge of basic Javascript. I don't really have any. Does anyone know of any good information on the basics that I can find and read online before I dive into this book?
IMO you should concentrate more on CSS selectors, since simple jQuery effects are not that hard to achieve but some basic JS knowledge is always recommended. Most simple effects go like $('selector').effect('speed',callbackFunction).anotherEffect(); I'd recommend http://www.tizag.com/javascriptT/ , Tizag has some really nice tutorials collection. Btw, that book is really informative, you'd become an expert if you master all explained techniques =)
Hm I think the Mozilla Core JavaScript guide is the best free source for learning the basics. Yes it becomes boring reading so much theory but it's worth and makes jQuery much much easier and clear to understand.
KUDOS for actually doing this - taking the time to study javascript first and then using jquery as a layer on top. if only more people did this, the internet would be a far better place don't listen to people that tell you otherwise anyway - yes, you can study selectors and css and so forth - after all, jquery is geared towards doing one thing and one thing only: give you easy access to the DOM model. oh, and it can also do ajax and events. anything after you will need to gain out of it by using javascript to extend the framework. Or, as many people do, by downloading a plugin instead--this is why many people on the fringes of web development like jquery. it's like a go-go gadjet javascript widget, literally--helps them to get an effect here and there and gets the job done. so - depends on what you want to be doing - using it for some polish or actually getting good with it. if the latter, then DO read up on javascript and (modern/recent) javascript best practices as much as you can. I'd steer clear of old tutorials that are from the turn of the century and start with a hello world through document.write and not by creating an element dynamically or modifying an existing one's innerHTML property. the notable exception to the above is http://www.w3schools.com/jS/ which can be useful but what shazin posted (rep inbound) seems rather nice, https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Core_JavaScript_1.5_Guide:Values etc - stick to js 1.5 and you won't set foot wrong