I usually only like implementing JavaScript if it will add functionality to a webpage. It keeps the application running its best and performing optimally. It’s one of the same principles that I suggest with regards to using Flash as well.

With that being said I’ve seen lots of great Flash graphics/animations and creative uses for JavaScript for styling a page. DevSnippets has a list of 20 plugins based on jQuery for adding style to design elements.

I would probably say implementing some of these into your next web application will give it a clean look, but don’t overdo it. If it’s something that could be handled in CSS I would make an attempt there first, then look into JavaScript.

If you have never heard of sIFR it stands for Scalable Inman Flash Replacement. What it does is take plain text and replaces it with a flash object using a font of your choice. When developing websites to look a certain way you’ll want for the most part to use web safe fonts which are fonts that are available across platforms and browsers so that your site will look similar. The problem with that is you are really limited to the number of fonts you can use and limits the way the sites look and feel.

There is a newer updated sIFR implementation which promises to be faster and smaller. With more people wanting more than just the generic web fonts faster is always going to be better as long as it still works.

Personally if possible I like to stay with standard web fonts. Our company website does not use sIFR. I’m satisfied with how the fonts look and I usually don’t try to add additional things to sites unless it improves functionality. I weigh the pros and cons to see if it’s worth it and then implement.

With that being said for those already using sIFR for whatever the reason, trying out sIFR Lite would probably be a good idea to see if it will help speed up your sites.