Ajax – Tutorials, Examples, and History
April 1, 2007 30 CommentsAjax (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is a method of building interactive applications for the Web that process user requests immediately. Ajax combines several programming tools including JavaScript, dynamic HTML (DHTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), cascading style sheets (CSS), the Document Object Model (DOM), and the Microsoft object, XMLHttpRequest. Ajax allows content on Web pages to update immediately when a user performs an action, unlike an HTTP request, during which users must wait for a whole new page to load. For example, a weather forecasting site could display local conditions on one side of the page without delay after a user types in a zip code.
Google Maps is one well-known application that uses Ajax. The interface allows the user to change views and manipulate the map in real time. Ajax applications do not require installation of a plug-in, but work directly with a Web browser. Because of the technique’s reliance on XMLHttpRequest, early applications worked only with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser, but most other browsers now support Ajax.
Applications created with Ajax use an engine that acts as an intermediary between a user’s browser and the server from which it is requesting information. Instead of loading a traditional Web page, the user’s browser loads the Ajax engine, which displays the page the user sees. The engine continues to run in the background, using JavaScript to communicate with the Web browser. User input or clicking on the page sends a JavaScript call to the Ajax engine, which can respond instantly in many cases. If the engine needs additional data, it requests it from the server, usually using XML, while it is simultaneously updating the page.
Ajax is not a proprietary technology or a packaged product. Web developers have been using JavaScript and XML in combination for several years. Jesse James Garrett of the consultancy firm Adaptive Path is credited with coining the name “Ajax” as a shorthand way to refer to the specific technologies involved in a current approach.
The ten best tutorials, and examples.
- Ajax Tutorial: Ajax What is it Good For?
- This site covers not only how to code in
Ajax , and to implement it into your site, but also the history of it, and how it came to be. It is a good place to start.
- This site covers not only how to code in
- Rasmus’ 30 second Ajax Tutorial
- This is a quick and dirty introduction to
Ajax . It doesn’t go in depth, but in 30 seconds (ok, a few minutes) you should be able to comprehend it; if you have coding knowledge.
- This is a quick and dirty introduction to
- Ajax: Getting Started
- This is from the Mozilla developer center. This is also a somewhat basic introduction to
Ajax , but it is quite nicely laid out.
- This is from the Mozilla developer center. This is also a somewhat basic introduction to
- Interactivity with Remote Scripting
- This is just like the first two, basic, yet understandable. A good read if you are still having trouble understanding
Ajax , and remote scripting.
- This is just like the first two, basic, yet understandable. A good read if you are still having trouble understanding
- Ajax Examples
- This site isn’t so much a tutorial, as it is a comprehensive list of
Ajax examples. The author lists real world uses ofAjax to give you ideas on what you can use it for in your sites.
- This site isn’t so much a tutorial, as it is a comprehensive list of
- Ajax (programming)
- Wikipedia usually has a plethora of information and links for many, many topics. This is also true for
Ajax programming. There is some great information here, and make sure to check out the external links at the end of the wiki.
- Wikipedia usually has a plethora of information and links for many, many topics. This is also true for
- Ajax in ASP.NET
- If you are an ASP.NET developer, than this is the place to take a look at once you understand the basics of
Ajax . Microsoft is busy working on their own implementation ofAjax ; called Atlas, but it isn’t ready yet.
- If you are an ASP.NET developer, than this is the place to take a look at once you understand the basics of
- Ajax with J2EE
- Another tutorial of
Ajax , this time implementing with J2EE.
- Another tutorial of
- Ruby on Rails
- There is a very active group of developers that swear by Ruby on Rails. It is a framework that accelerates the development of
Ajax . It is considered a very fleshed out and easy to use version ofAjax . As a bonus; Ruby is incredibly easy to learn to code in.
- There is a very active group of developers that swear by Ruby on Rails. It is a framework that accelerates the development of
- Ajax: A New Approach to Web Applications
- It’s probably best to actually include the article that coined the term
Ajax . It doesn’t have code examples, but does give a nice walkthrough of howAjax actually works.
- It’s probably best to actually include the article that coined the term
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