MDN About

Learning objective: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to navigate and utilize the Mozilla Developer Network (MDN) Web Docs as a comprehensive resource for JavaScript, CSS, and HTML documentation.

Introduction

Short for Mozilla Developer Network Web Docs, MDN is a go-to resource for Javascript, CSS, and HTML documentation. Think of MDN as a detailed guidebook for web development. It’s like an owner’s manual that you’ll frequently consult for instructions and information.

As you progress through this course and in your career as a developer, you’ll often remember a specific method or concept that fits a problem you’re working on. In such cases, you’ll need a reliable source to quickly refresh your memory on how that method works or how to implement it. MDN is a perfect resource in this scenario.

It’s also worth noting that MDN’s format is a standard in the industry. Many other documentation resources you’ll come across in your career will have a similar layout and approach. Getting comfortable with documentation early in your journey as a developer will set you up for success.

About MDN

MDN Web Docs, launched in 2005, was created by Mozilla as an updated version of Netscape’s developer documentation. It’s designed similarly to Wikipedia, allowing volunteers to contribute and update information, making it a collaborative and evolving resource.

The upkeep of MDN Web Docs is a joint effort between Mozilla and knowledgeable volunteers from the JavaScript community. This collective maintenance ensures the information stays current and relevant.

In a significant endorsement of MDN’s quality, both Microsoft and Google, in 2017, decided to close their separate documentation projects and instead adopted MDN Web Docs. This move underlines the trust and reliance the tech community places in MDN.

As of today, MDN is recognized as one of the most reliable and comprehensive resources for documentation related to open web standards.

Check out this link if you’d like to know more about the history of MDN.