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AJAX

(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"...

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Definition: AJAX

(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.



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  • Ajax, explained

    For consumers, Ajax looks like magic. Developers know differently, of course.

    Blog posts | February 5, 2012 10:17am PST

  • Google starts indexing Facebook comments, AJAX/JavaScript content

    Google has started indexing AJAX and JavaScript content. This includes, for example, the Facebook Comments Box many sites use to power their commenting system.

    Blog posts | November 1, 2011 1:04pm PDT

  • The truth about iPad: It's only good for two things

    The Apple iPad is a landmark product, but it's also imperfect and fairly limited. In fact, there are only two areas where it really shines.

    Blog posts | September 20, 2010 1:23pm PDT

  • Google buys Instantiations, gets Eclipse, Java, and Ajax expertise

    Google continued its acquisition spree today by snapping up another one of my favorite companies, Instantiations. The Google Web Toolkit will be the primary beneficiary of this influx of talent.

    Blog posts | August 4, 2010 8:45pm PDT

  • Soshiku Pro - not bad for an 18-year old

    Near the end of 2008, I wrote about Soshiku, a really cool web application for students to track their assignments using either SMS on their cell phones or a simple web interface. Developed by...

    Blog posts | March 9, 2010 9:03pm PST

  • John Resig explains the status and future of jQuery

    Editor's note: Andrew Mager is reporting from the Future of Web Apps (FOWA 2010) conference, held in Miami from February 22 to 24. Click here to read all of his coverage. The following is just...

    Blog posts | February 23, 2010 7:15am PST

  • Microsoft to move Orchard open-source CMS project to the CodePlex Foundation

    Microsoft is moving its "Orchard" open-source content-management-system (CMS) project from its own CodePlex repository to the recently formed CodePlex Foundation on December 9. Orchard is the...

    Blog posts | December 9, 2009 4:45am PST

  • With Zapatec Funambol has one stack to rule mobile open source

    With Zapatec, Funambol believes it can create a one-stop shop for building mobile applications that run as well as native apps across multiple platforms.

    Blog posts | November 4, 2009 12:01am PST

  • Google suggests making Ajax content crawlable

    A posting on the Google blog proposes that asynchronous assets should be included in their index. Boatloads of content on the web is accessed via Ajax including Google Maps and Facebook...

    Blog posts | October 8, 2009 2:39pm PDT

  • XML on the wane? Say it isn't so, Jack

    Is the 'X' in Ajax (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) fading?

    Blog posts | September 25, 2009 2:56pm PDT

  • Microsoft Doloto: Making Ajax page downloads faster

    Microsoft is making available for download a tool developed by Microsoft Research that is designed to make Web pages more responsive by decreasing the initial download size of Ajax applications.

    Blog posts | September 8, 2009 7:21am PDT

  • Tailoring Web technology to a bespoke dress shirt business

    It's not easy to mix up the monotony of putting on a shirt and a tie every day for work, but what if the shirt was made-to-order, with details of your own choosing? Fashion startup ShirtsMyWay...

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  • Google Wave: Catching the Big One

    Google unveiled a new online communications tool Thursday at its annual Google I/O Developer's Conference. Called "Google Wave", the new system sets its sights pretty high: replacing email,...

    Blog posts | May 29, 2009 8:02am PDT

  • Google I/O: How do I code thee? Let me count the ways

    Dan Morrill presented a great talk this morning on the 3 different ways to code for Android: Managed Code (Dalvik), Ajax, and Native Code. To demonstrate the different ways Dan decided to write...

    Blog posts | May 27, 2009 8:01pm PDT

  • Jive talking: Easy to underestimate effort required to get people engaged

    Oliver Marks and Larry Dignan both have a take on Jive Software's Social Business Suite 3.0 announcement. As Oliver says, we talked at length about the topic last evening. On the one hand this is...

    Blog posts | March 10, 2009 6:44am PDT

  • Sun gets grant for AEGIS Project

    By providing an open method for accessing third-generation Web pages and applications, AEGIS could leapfrog Microsoft's work in this area and not just take back an important sub-market, but...

    Blog posts | December 18, 2008 8:09am PST

  • News to know: Macs on sale, YouTube goes wide, Twitter, Cisco

    Here are today’s notable headlines. You can get News To Know via email alert and RSS daily: Sam Diaz: A rare occurrence: Macs on sale Jason D. O'Grady: Apple retail stores to match prices...

    Blog posts | November 26, 2008 2:00am PST

  • Move over, Ajax. Here comes Microsoft's 'Kojax'

    The latest Microsoft mobile-related development about which I'm most intrigued is codenamed "Kojax.". Kojax is a mobile development platform, according to my sources, that will allow Microsoft- --...

    Blog posts | November 25, 2008 11:13am PST

  • $10k hacking contest announced

    Israeli software developer Gizmox is challenging hackers to try hacking into the company's Visual WebGui Platform, by offering a $10,000 incentive to those who manage to achieve the objectives of...

    Blog posts | November 12, 2008 4:12pm PST

  • Busy week for Microsoft: Silverlight and jQuery

    I'm traveling so I wasn't able to chime in on the availability of a Silverlight release candidate. One of the most important thing for developers is that it sounds like this will be the last round...

    Blog posts | September 29, 2008 5:59am PDT

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