If I use GPL-licensed JavaScript components on my website, would it be considered as a release to the public (as client-side code of the components is loaded to users' browsers via http) and I have to "open-source" the whole website?
So, can we say that the usage of JavaScript components on a website is distribution of the code and it involves the distribution of the whole website code?
Hope, the question is clear and you can help me to understand this aspect of GPL.
You have distributed the JavaScript library to the user; you are required to comply with the GPL's requirements on distribution then. Whether this requires you to distribute the rest of the website is where things get complicated - I'd advise you to talk with a competent lawyer about your exact situation if you're even thinking about going that route, and keep in mind that this is at least violating the spirit of the licence, whether or not it violates the letter of the license as well.
This does definitely get complicated. I'll give you an example. What if you're using jQuery's GPL license (I know it's dual licensed, but let's ignore that for just a sec).
Google has a public distribution of jQuery (among other javascript frameworks) that they distribute on their CDN, for example:
http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.3.2/jquery.min.js
So in this case, you're not the one that is distributing the javascript library to the user, google is ;-)
please note: as @bdonlan describes, only an experienced lawyer should be the one to really weigh in on this. I only contributed this answer to provide context for things you can speak to the lawyer about.