(Asynchronous JAvaScript and XML) Using an enhancement in JavaScript that allows Web pages to be more interactive and behave like local applications, which are also known as "rich client" applications. AJAX allows the Web page to retrieve small amounts of data from the server without reloading the entire page.
Prior to AJAX, any retrieval of data from the server required that the entire Web page be refreshed in the user's computer. As a result, systems were often designed with less interaction; for example, to have the user submit a form only at the end, after all fields were filled in. In contrast, AJAX systems can validate one or two items at a time "behind the scenes" without making the session cumbersome, especially over slow connections. AJAX, also known as "remote scripting," allows Web-based applications to be designed like LAN-based applications.
The XMLHTTPRequest Object
The JavaScript function that makes AJAX possible is the XMLHTTPRequest object, which was added to the JavaScript runtime module in the Web browser. It was first available in IE 5, Mozilla 1.0, Safari 1.2 and Opera 8. The XMLHTTPRequest object returns the data formatted in a DOM document.
Web Workers
Subsequent to AJAX, Web Workers is another method for making Web-based applications function like locally installed applications. For more details, see Web Workers. See AJAX engine, AJAX framework, ARAX, rich client, JavaScript and DOM.
Prior to AJAX, any retrieval of data from the server required that the entire Web page be refreshed in the user's computer. As a result, systems were often designed with less interaction; for example, to have the user submit a form only at the end, after all fields were filled in. In contrast, AJAX systems can validate one or two items at a time "behind the scenes" without making the session cumbersome, especially over slow connections. AJAX, also known as "remote scripting," allows Web-based applications to be designed like LAN-based applications.
The XMLHTTPRequest Object
The JavaScript function that makes AJAX possible is the XMLHTTPRequest object, which was added to the JavaScript runtime module in the Web browser. It was first available in IE 5, Mozilla 1.0, Safari 1.2 and Opera 8. The XMLHTTPRequest object returns the data formatted in a DOM document.
Web Workers
Subsequent to AJAX, Web Workers is another method for making Web-based applications function like locally installed applications. For more details, see Web Workers. See AJAX engine, AJAX framework, ARAX, rich client, JavaScript and DOM.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Komodo IDE 5.2.3 (Mac)
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- Software downloads 2009-11-24
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- Software downloads 2009-11-24
- Zimbra Collaboration Suite 6.0.3 (Mac)
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- Software downloads 2009-11-24
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- Software downloads 2009-11-21
- Google makes Chrome OS open source today
- I like itThe ChromeOS demo looked pretty cool!I'm almost 100% webapp-based already, so I could see myself using a simple, fast & no maintenance OS like that the majority of the time.I like it too, but, for me, I need to compile and run programs locally. I would imagine that...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- WaveMaker Visual Ajax Studio Community Edition 6.0 (Windows)
- WaveMaker Visual Ajax Studio is an easy-to-use WYSIWYG builder that enables the drag & drop assembly of scalable, web and cloud applications using Ajax widgets, web services and databases. WaveMaker Studio will look and feel especially familiar to client/server developers who are used to working with visual tools. WaveMaker's Studio...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- RapidCart 2.2.4 (Mac)
- RapidCart is a RapidWeaver plugin that lets you create your own e-commerce website in minutes. Add one or more RapidCart pages to your site and enjoy the slick and fully customizable cross-page AJAX cart that the plugin will automatically generate for you. Payments: checkout thru multiple trusted payment systems...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- Microsoft shares a few tidbits on IE9 and (lots) more on Silverlight 4
- Safari? What Safari ? :-)http://www.tgdaily.com/software-features/39495-safari-4-beta-first-browser-to-hit-100-score-in-acid3-testI know, Steve doesn't like Apple but you're supposed to be a journalist? ;-)Google chrome?IE like Microsoft is stumbling around in a new ecosystem in which spending thousands of dollars is not an option.Plus, it locks you into a insecure OS platform with...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-18
- Adobe CTO: Flash in the future
- I wish it was Flash in the pastFlash is the antithesis of open platforms. It has made the internet into a cesspool of whiz-bang crap-ola. It adds no value to the sites it is used on and could be replaced with Ajax on almost all.The sooner Flash goes away the...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-17
- Who needs an Office app? Google Docs, Calendar & more all work on Nokia N900
- I like the direction this is headingThose keys look awfully small compared to your thumbs (or maybe you have HUGE thumbs ;-) ).In any event, I like the look of the future. You need a foldable, netbook size BT keyboard the size of a cigarette pack, a little stand, all...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-14
- RapidShop 4.4.2 (Windows)
- RapidShop is a shopping cart software. No need expensive hosting, no need to arrange a dedicated server. No need database, can work without PHP. Excel based administration interface. Search engine friendly. AJAX-based components and WYSIWYG editors improve the user experience. Responsive support. PayPal, GoogleCheckout integrated. Perfect solution for the mid-size,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-12
- Microsoft 'Geneva' identity wares approach the finish line
- just PR stuntsM$ merely renamed Active directory and claims a 'break through'.I'm still waiting to see a technology realy new comming out of M$.So far they only stole are renamed existing technologies.Parent post is a troll. Please ignore it. nt OKDeep zoom: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc645050(VS.95).aspxPhotosynth: http://photosynth.net/ASP.NET copied by Sun in JSF.Ajax (yes,...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-06
- February 2013 - The date when Firefox could pass Internet Explorer
- RE: February 2013 - The date when Firefox could pass Internet ExplorerThat does assume that everything remains constant, which it won't. If someone creates a new browser that could disrupt it, or when either company releases a new version of their browser that is also going to throw things...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-06
- Why Google released Closure Tools
- another nail in M$ coffinIt seems Google is second to FSF to send M$ to its grave.You are an idiot....First of all did you even read the article...Not only the article makes no senselike your idiotic rant aggainst MS but it contains several errors.AJAX is javascript and is not unique...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-06
- Is Nvidia planning to add X86 compatibility to its chipsets?
- I hope soNVIDIA with x86-64 technology would be Next Big ThingTM, although I'd rather see a new architecture replace the aging x86. 64-bit is just a tack-on feature set of x86. I'd rather see something in line with IA64 from NVIDIA to shake up Intel. I'm sure...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-05
- ARI Asynchronous Remote Interface 1.0 (Windows)
- ARI, which stands for Asynchronous Remote Interface is a .NET Ajax library that eliminates all of the complexity of Ajax programming for .NET based web sites. ARI is a drop-in solution that allows you to make remote calls to all of the server side code residing in the App_Code directory...
- Software downloads 2009-11-04
- AllWebMenus Pro 5.2.800 (Windows)
- AllWebMenus is a DHTML menu/JavaScript menu builder for web navigation that requires absolutely no DHTML or JavaScript experience. It creates any cross-browser, popup or drop-down web menu that works alike in all browsers supporting DHTML held by all popular platforms (Win, MAC, Unix) and browsers (IE, Firefox, Mozilla, Safari, Chrome)....
- Software downloads 2009-11-02
- Keynote Internet Testing Environment 3.0 (Windows)
- The KITE software resides on the users Windows desktop and provides a local and Internet testing environment to record, playback, and collect detailed performance metrics. KITE allows advanced scripting, detailed network performance and DOM analysis and more, and coupled with the ability to gather data from test locations in North...
- Software downloads 2009-11-02
- Open Search Server 1.1r632 (Windows)
- Open Search Server OSS is a search engine software developed under the GPL v3 open source licence. Built using the best open source technologies available, Open Search Server is a stable, high-performance piece of software. It is both a modern search engine and a suite of high-powered full text search...
- Software downloads 2009-10-26
- Facebook launches confusing, counterintuitive, broken UI
- When you login to Facebook today, you might notice a slightly different news feed. There is a link that says "View Live Feed"... but wait. What makes something "news" and what makes something "live"? Okay, I'll click the new button. ...
- Blog posts 2009-10-23
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