W3Schools

home HOME

AJAX Basic
AJAX HOME
AJAX Intro
AJAX HTTP Request
AJAX Example
AJAX Browsers
AJAX XMLHttpRequest
AJAX Server
AJAX Server Script

AJAX Advanced
AJAX Suggest
AJAX Source
AJAX Database
AJAX XML File
AJAX ResponseXML

AJAX Examples
AJAX Examples

Selected Reading
Web Statistics
Web Glossary
Web Hosting
Web Quality

W3Schools Forum

Helping W3Schools

AJAX Browser Support

Previous Next

AJAX - Browser Support

The keystone of AJAX is the XMLHttpRequest object.

Different browsers use different methods to create the XMLHttpRequest object.

Internet Explorer uses an ActiveXObject, while other browsers uses the built-in JavaScript object called XMLHttpRequest.

To create this object, and deal with different browsers, we are going to use a "try and catch" statement. You can read more about the try and catch statement in our JavaScript tutorial.

Let's update our "testAjax.htm" file with the JavaScript that creates the XMLHttpRequest object:

<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
function ajaxFunction() {
var xmlHttp; try {
// Firefox, Opera 8.0+, Safari
xmlHttp=new XMLHttpRequest();
} catch (e) {
// Internet Explorer
try {
xmlHttp=new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
} catch (e) {
try {
xmlHttp=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
} catch (e) {
alert("Your browser does not support AJAX!");
return false;
}
}
}
}
</script>
<form name="myForm">
Name: <input type="text" name="username" />
Time: <input type="text" name="time" />
</form>
</body>
</html>

Example explained: First create a variable xmlHttp to hold the XMLHttpRequest object.

Then try to create the object with XMLHttp=new XMLHttpRequest(). This is for the Firefox, Opera, and Safari browsers. If that fails, try xmlHttp=new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP") which is for Internet Explorer 6.0+, if that also fails, try xmlHttp=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP") which is for Internet Explorer 5.5+

If none of the three methods work, the user has a very outdated browser, and he or she will get an alert stating that the browser doesn't support AJAX.

Note: The browser-specific code above is long and quite complex. However, this is the code you can use every time you need to create an XMLHttpRequest object, so you can just copy and paste it whenever you need it. The code above is compatible with all the popular browsers: Internet Explorer, Opera, Firefox, and Safari.

The next chapter shows how to use the XMLHttpRequest object to communicate with the server.


Previous Next


Ektron
Ektron

The Ektron Intranet lets you do everything you need to do on your corporate intranet and everything you want to do... all with just one application.

What can you do with the Ektron Intranet?

Ektron

Navigate through content, documents, assets, colleagues and workgroups quickly and intuitively with enterprise search

Ektron

Communicate with friends and colleagues with forums, message boards and corporate blogging using the new Social Networking Platform

Ektron

Promote collaboration among coworkers in your organization through project workspaces where others can efficiently find information and work together

Ektron

Personalize your company profile by bookmarking and organizing favorite content, uploading assets, posting photos, blogging, and more

Ektron

Interact with features like tagging, flagging, wikis and ratings found in the Web 2.0 Toolbox

Ektron

Author/edit content, manage navigation, menus, audit trails, workflow and approvals with the best in breed Content Management

See why there are 20,000+ Ektron integrations worldwide.
Request an INSTANT DEMO or download a FREE TRIAL today.




Jump to: Top of Page or HOME or Printer Friendly Printer friendly page

W3Schools provides material for training only. We do not warrant the correctness of its contents. The risk from using it lies entirely with the user. While using this site, you agree to have read and accepted our terms of use and privacy policy.

Copyright 1999-2008 by Refsnes Data. All Rights Reserved.

Validate Validate W3C-WAI level A conformance icon W3Schools was converted to XHTML in December 1999
SITE SEARCH
 
About W3Schools
W3Schools Forum
dotnetbutton
Dynamic button image generation
WEB HOSTING
$15 Domain Name
Registration
Save $20 / year!
UK Domain Names
UK Web Hosting

Alojamiento Web
Buy UK Domain Names
Register Domain Names
Cheap Domain Names
Cheap Web Hosting
Best Web Hosting
Domain Name Registration
PHP MySQL Hosting
Top 10 Web Hosting
Web Hosting Providers
Web Hosting Company
UK Reseller Hosting
Web Hosting
WEB BUILDING
Website Templates
Flash Templates
Website Builder
Internet Business Opportunity
Custom Programming
FREE Trial or Demo
Web Content Manager
Forms,Web Alerts,RSS
Ecommerce Software
XMLSpy XML Editor
Azbuz Blog
SHOPPING
UK Wholesalers
UK Wholesale
UAE Dubai Property
Private Student Loans
UK Dropshippers & Wholesalers Directory
EDUCATION
US Web Design Schools
HTML Exam
YELLOW PAGES
www.nettkatalogen.no
www.gulex.dk
www.gulex.se
www.gelbex.de
www.teloos.fi
www.teloos.fr
www.teloos.co.uk
www.teloos.at
www.teloos.de