In: Root » Computers and technology » AJAX » AJAX Fundementals The history the definition and how it can be used
The term "AJAX" was created by Jesse James Garrett, who coined the term in 2005 when he decided that he needed a shorthand term for the suite of technologies that AJAX is composed of. However, although Jesse James Garrett came up with a simpler way to express the idea, the actual application and the codes that make them up had already been in use for many years, and asynchronously loaded data had been a well known and heavily used concept since the mid-nineties. Since then, many big name search engines have started to incorporate AJAX into their websites and tools. This is not surprising because although every website requires a certain amount of bandwidth to function, with AJAX, the amount of bandwidth that is actually used up is far smaller. This makes it easier for people to access your webpage, and gives you more legroom to add other pages to your website as you see fit. The framework for AJAX is made up of many parts: HTML -- or hypertext markup language -- is the very base of all web pages. It is the foundation that all websites are built on. Next AJAX utilizes XML -- or extensible markup language -- which is thought to be a general purpose language. It is a standard script that facilitates the sharing of information via the internet. Cascading style sheets are also very important to AJAX as they are a highly mutable way to display the information received from the HTML and XML codes. JavaScript is a scripting language which is used to allow access to objects within other codes, and is most commonly used to add a bit of spice to a website. Finally, AJAX uses XMLHTTPRequest, which brings it all together by enforcing the asynchronous exchange of data between JavaScript, XML and HTTP (also known as hypertext transfer protocol), and thus establishing a seamless connection between the server and the client sides of a web page. As for its uses, basically, what AJAX does is speed things up. Web applications are fun, and add an extra bit of panache to a website; however, they can also bog things down, and in a lot of cases, deter visitors from staying on a site, or ever visiting it again. That is where AJAX steps in. AJAX integrates the content and data of Web applications with HTML and CSS; XHR, IFrame, or expertly placed script tags; and DOM accessed with JavaScript to create a stylish and seamless display. This seemingly massive amount of code runs in the background, while all the visitor sees is the outward design. The idea that AJAX is complicated is only partially true. If you are starting from scratch, without any knowledge of programming, then AJAX can indeed be very difficult. However, for the seasoned developer, AJAX is nothing new; it is simply a pre-existing set of standards put together in a new way. Knowing this, the question remains: what can you actually do with AJAX? Well, you can do practically anything, but most people feel it is best used to enhance the look and the features of a website without weighing it down. One example would be to create a simple chat room that runs smoothly in the corner of a website. You can also use AJAX to create website tabs, slideshow image galleries, and dynamic menus. However, despite all of the marvelous things that you can do with AJAX, many people still feel that it leaves quite a bit of room for improvement. For starters, AJAX pages do not record history, and thus the back and forward buttons become defunct. Also, it is a step behind when it comes to accessibility given that it does not function on PDAs and cell phones. One of the more major problems that people have while using AJAX is that it has a hard time functioning with search engines. These problems stem from the fact that the data shown on AJAX applications are displayed dynamically. With no keywords or URL for search engines to notice, these websites are generally ignored by the engines, and thus, by potential visitors. With all of these issues, many people are still hesitant to use AJAX on their website. However, those who support the use of AJAX feel that comparatively speaking, these problems are a small price to pay for an application with so many great uses. In addition to that, those with a passion for the AJAX application are working on solutions to these problems, and troubleshooting for any future setbacks. Whether good or bad, AJAX is definitely making its mark in the programming world. This intricate application can potentially make things simpler in the long run. But whether AJAX is fully embraced and becomes a matter of course for website builders and owners, or it simply fades into the background is something that only the future can truly tell. |
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