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What is AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML)?

AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is a web development technique for creating interactive applications. It allows client-side scripts to send and retrieve data from a server asynchronously, enhancing webpage performance and user experience by updating content without reloading the entire page. JSON has largely replaced XML in AJAX.

AJAX stands for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. It’s a technique that makes your browsing experience smoother and more interactive.

Imagine you’re reading your favorite news site. With AJAX, when you click on a news article, the page doesn’t need to reload to show you the content entirely—only the part of the page that contains the article changes. The rest of the page—like the header, the navigation, or the sidebar—remains intact.

This makes for a more fluid and faster experience.

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Note: The page is part of the browser vocabulary to help you understand technical terms.

How Does AJAX Work in a Browser?

The magic of AJAX comes from its asynchronous nature. A simple way to understand it is to say you’re at a restaurant (the website).

Without AJAX, each time you order a dish (request data), you would have to leave the restaurant and come back to get your dish.

But with AJAX, you give your order to the waiter (the AJAX call), and then you can continue chatting with your friends, enjoying your drinks, and listening to music while the kitchen (the server) prepares your dish. When the dish is ready, the waiter brings it to you without interrupting your conversation.

That’s the asynchronous part of AJAX—it allows you to continue other activities while the data is loading.

A Real-World Example

Consider a weather application. Without AJAX, every time you select a different city to check the weather, the entire page would need to refresh to display the information.

However, with AJAX, when you select a different city, only the part of the page that shows the weather updates. The rest of the page remains the same.

This is done with an AJAX call to the server, which fetches the weather data for the selected city and updates the webpage without a full page reload.

Bottom Line

To summarize, AJAX is critical in creating efficient and interactive web applications. It works behind the scenes in your browser, fetching and updating data without requiring full page reloads.

This leads to a more seamless and faster browsing experience, enhancing your website interaction.

Whether you’re reading the news, checking the weather, or socializing on a network site, AJAX is likely playing a vital role in your online journey.

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Kushal Azza

Kushal Azza

Kushal Azza is a Google Certified IT Professional, Digital Content Creator, and Go-To Digital Marketer with Engineering Degree. He has over a decade of experience solving tech problems, troubleshooting, and innovating digital solutions. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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