AJAX

Full Name

Asynchronous Javascript and XML - or simply, AJAX

Information

Ajax, or AJAX, is a web development technique used for creating interactive web applications. The intent is to make web pages feel more responsive by exchanging small amounts of data with the server behind the scenes, so that the entire web page does not have to be reloaded each time the user requests a change. This is intended to increase the web page's interactivity, speed, functionality, and usability.

The name is an acronym standing for Asynchronous Javascript and XML. Ajax is asynchronous in that loading does not interfere with normal page loading. Javascript is the programming language that Ajax function calls are made in. Data retrieved using the technique is commonly formatted using XML, as reflected in the naming of the XMLHTTPRequest object from which Ajax is derived.

Ajax is a cross-platform technology usable on many different operating systems, computer architectures, and Web browsers as it is based on open standards such as Javascript and XML, together with open source implementations of other required technologies.

Related Links

• Wikipedia entry on AJAX
• Microsoft ASP.Net site dealing with AJAX
• AJAX Tutorial
• Seminal article on AJAX
• Mozilla articles on AJAX

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