HTML used exclusively on its own is not a language equipped for dynamic or interactive pages, but over the years, the use of client-side scripting has become a popular method for creating such pages. The most commonly used language is JavaScript, which despite a collaboration between Netscape and Sun, has no similarities with Java. Microsoft has also produced its own scripting languages, such as JScript and VBScript, but both are presently limited to Internet Explorer.

Client-side scripting involves placing script code into a document, which is then used by the browser to perform specific tasks. Pages on the server still use ordinary HTML, but browser support can be limited due to many different languages or even different versions of these languages.

The following browsers support JavaScript, but to ensure compatibility, you should always check pages against the latest version of each of these:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Netscape Navigator
• Opera

Client-side scripting is useful for free web hosting services pages, as it involves no added expense to the site owner and does not require installation by the owner of the server. This method is also useful for people with a slow web server, as it does not generate a large memory and system capability requirement.