AJAX Http Requests

AJAX Uses HTTP Requests

In traditional JavaScript coding, if you want to get any information from a database or a file on the server, or send user information to a server, you will have to make an HTML form and GET or POST data to the server. The user will have to click the "Submit" button to send/get the information, wait for the server to respond, then a new page will load with the results.

Because the server returns a new page each time the user submits input, traditional web applications can run slowly and tend to be less user-friendly.

With AJAX, your JavaScript communicates directly with the server, through the JavaScript XMLHttpRequest object

With an HTTP request, a web page can make a request to, and get a response from a web server - without reloading the page. The user will stay on the same page, and he or she will not notice that scripts request pages, or send data to a server in the background.

The XMLHttpRequest Object

By using the XMLHttpRequest object, a web developer can update a page with data from the server after the page has loaded!

AJAX was made popular in 2005 by Google (with Google Suggest).

Google Suggest is using the XMLHttpRequest object to create a very dynamic web interface: When you start typing in Google's search box, a JavaScript sends the letters off to a server and the server returns a list of suggestions.

The XMLHttpRequest object is supported in Internet Explorer 5.0+, Safari 1.2, Mozilla 1.0 / Firefox, Opera 8+, and Netscape 7.

Ektron CMS400.NET Version 7.6 delivers all of the flexibility and features you need to deploy the Web site you want, quickly and efficiently. learn more...       6 ways to take your site to the next level with Ektron: Create site stickiness through social networking. Keep it personal, relevant and interactive and they'll come back for more. Keep it open. Your site needs to be ready and able to connect to outside services. Ektron's open API gives you maximum flexibility. Streamline content and document management. Users need to quickly and intuitively find and add information. Empower your content authors. Reduce IT bottlenecks by allowing business users to create and edit Web content and forms. Climb to the top of search rankings. SEO tools, URL aliasing and eCommerce for your digital marketing strategy Add powerful Web 2.0 tools like blogs, wikis, forums, geo-mapping, rating systems and RSS feeds easily. 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 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.

W3Schools was converted to XHTML in December 1999