AJAX = Asynchronous JavaScript And XML
AJAX is an acronym for Asynchronous JavaScript
And XML.>
AJAX is not a new programming language, but simply a new
technique for creating better, faster, and more interactive web
applications.
AJAX uses JavaScript to send and receive data between a web
browser and a web server.
The AJAX technique makes web pages more responsive by
exchanging data with the web server behind the scenes, instead
of reloading an entire web page each time a user makes a change.
AJAX Is A Browser Technology
AJAX is a technology that runs in your browser. It uses
asynchronous data transfer (HTTP requests) between the browser
and the web server, allowing web pages to request small bits of
information from the server instead of whole pages.
The technology makes Internet applications smaller, faster
and more user friendly.
AJAX is a web browser technology independent of web server
software.
AJAX Is Based On Open Standards
AJAX is based on the following open standards:
The open standards used in AJAX are well defined, and
supported by all major browsers. AJAX applications are browser
and platform independent. (Cross-Platform, Cross-Browser
technology)
AJAX Is About Better Internet Applications
Web applications have many benefits over desktop
applications, they can reach a larger audience, they are easier
to install and support, and easier to develop.
However, Internet applications are not always as "rich" and
user-friendly as traditional desktop applications.
With AJAX, Internet applications can be made richer (smaller,
faster, and easier to use).
You Can Start Using AJAX Today
There is nothing new to learn.
AJAX is based on open standards. These standards have been
used by most developers for several years.
Most existing web applications can be rewritten to use AJAX
technology instead of traditional HTML forms.
AJAX Uses XML And HTTP Requests
A traditional web application will submit input (using an
HTML form) to a web server. After the web server has processed
the data, it will return a completely new web page to the user.
Because the server returns a new web page each time the user
submits input, traditional web applications often run slowly and
tend to be less user friendly.
With AJAX, web applications can send and retrieve data
without reloading the whole web page. This is done by sending
HTTP requests to the server (behind the scenes), and by
modifying only parts of the web page using JavaScript when the
server returns data.
XML is commonly used as the format for receiving server data,
although any format, including plain text, can be used.
You will learn more about how this is done in the next
chapters of this tutorial. |
