AJAX INTRODUCTION
AJAX is a developer's dream, because you can:
Read data from a web server - after the page has loaded
Update a web page without reloading the page
Send data to a web server - in the background
What is AJAX?
AJAX = Asynchronous JavaScript and XML.
AJAX is not a programming language.
AJAX just uses a combination of:
A browser built-in XMLHttpRequest object (to request data from a web server)
JavaScript and HTML DOM (to display or use the data)
AJAX is a misleading name. AJAX applications might use XML to transport data, but it is
equally common to transport data as plain text or JSON text.
AJAX allows web pages to be updated asynchronously by exchanging data with a web server
behind the scenes. This means that it is possible to update parts of a web page, without reloading
the whole page.
How AJAX Works / AJAX architecture / AJAX Application Model
1. An event occurs in a web page (the page is loaded, a button is clicked)
2. An XMLHttpRequest object is created by JavaScript
3. The XMLHttpRequest object sends a request to a web server
4. The server processes the request
5. The server sends a response back to the web page
6. The response is read by JavaScript
7. Proper action (like page update) is performed by JavaScript
AJAX - The XMLHttpRequest Object
The XMLHttpRequest Object
All modern browsers support the XMLHttpRequest object.
The XMLHttpRequest object can be used to exchange data with a web server behind the scenes.
This means that it is possible to update parts of a web page, without reloading the whole page.
Create an XMLHttpRequest Object
Syntax for creating an XMLHttpRequest object:
variable = new XMLHttpRequest();
XMLHttpRequest Object Methods
Method Description
new XMLHttpRequest() Creates a new XMLHttpRequest object
abort() Cancels the current request
getAllResponseHeaders() Returns header information
getResponseHeader() Returns specific header information
open(method, url, async, user, psw) Specifies the request
method: the request type GET or POST
url: the file location
async: true (asynchronous) or false (synchronous)
user: optional user name
psw: optional password
send() Sends the request to the server
Used for GET requests
send(string) Sends the request to the server.
Used for POST requests
setRequestHeader() Adds a label/value pair to the header to be sent
XMLHttpRequest Object Properties
Property Description
onreadystatechange Defines a function to be called when
the readyState property changes
readyState Holds the status of the
XMLHttpRequest.
0: request not initialized
1: server connection established
2: request received
3: processing request
4: request finished and response is
ready
responseText Returns the response data as a string
responseXML Returns the response data as XML data
status Returns the status-number of a request
200: "OK"
403: "Forbidden"
404: "Not Found"
statusText Returns the status-text (e.g. "OK" or
"Not Found")
AJAX - Send a Request to a Server
Send a Request to a Server
To send a request to a server, we use the open() and send() methods of the XMLHttpRequest
object:
xhttp.open("GET", "ajax_info.txt", true);
xhttp.send();
Method Description
open(method, url, async) Specifies the type of request
method: the type of request: GET or POST
url: the server (file) location
async: true (asynchronous) or false (synchronous)
send() Sends the request to the server (used for GET)
send(string) Sends the request to the server (used for POST)
GET or POST?
GET is simpler and faster than POST, and can be used in most cases.
However, always use POST requests when:
A cached file is not an option (update a file or database on the server).
Sending a large amount of data to the server (POST has no size limitations).
Sending user input (which can contain unknown characters), POST is more robust and
secure than GET.
Asynchronous - True or False?
Server requests should be sent asynchronously.
The async parameter of the open() method should be set to true:
xhttp.open("GET", "ajax_test.asp", true);
By sending asynchronously, the JavaScript does not have to wait for the server response, but can
instead:
execute other scripts while waiting for server response
deal with the response after the response is ready
The onreadystatechange Property
With the XMLHttpRequest object you can define a function to be executed when the request
receives an answer.
The function is defined in the onreadystatechange property of the XMLHttpResponse object:
AJAX - Server Response
The onreadystatechange Property
The readyState property holds the status of the XMLHttpRequest.
The onreadystatechange property defines a function to be executed when the readyState
changes.
The status property and the statusText property holds the status of the XMLHttpRequest object.
Property Description
onreadystatechange Defines a function to be called when the readyState property changes
readyState Holds the status of the XMLHttpRequest.
0: request not initialized
1: server connection established
2: request received
3: processing request
4: request finished and response is ready
status 200: "OK"
403: "Forbidden"
404: "Page not found"
For a complete list go to the Http Messages Reference
statusText Returns the status-text (e.g. "OK" or "Not Found")
The onreadystatechange function is called every time the readyState changes.
When readyState is 4 and status is 200, the response is ready:
AJAX Simple Program
Writa an AJAX program to change the content of text.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<div id="demo">
<h2>The XMLHttpRequest Object</h2>
<button type="button" onclick="loadDoc()">Change Content</button>
</div>
<script>
function loadDoc() {
var xhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
xhttp.onreadystatechange = function() {
if (this.readyState == 4 && this.status == 200) {
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML =
this.responseText;
}
};
xhttp.open("GET", "ajax_info.txt", true);
xhttp.send();
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
Output
The XMLHttpRequest Object
Change Content
ajax_info.txt
AJAX is not a programming language.
AJAX is a technique for accessing web servers from a web page.
AJAX stands for Asynchronous JavaScript And XML.
