Ajax allows for dynamically updating web pages without reloading the entire page. It uses a combination of technologies including HTML, CSS, XML, JavaScript, and asynchronous data retrieval. This allows parts of pages to update asynchronously by exchanging small amounts of data with the server behind the scenes. Benefits include more responsive interfaces, server bandwidth savings, and a more engaging user experience compared to full page reloads. Ajax is based on open standards and works across browsers without plugins. It plays an increasingly important role in modern web development.

1. AJAX
Web 2.0 applications - INB(N) 347
Assessment 3 - Section D
Chee Lap Cheah – N6240518
Subin Kim – N7299494
Vivien Novak - N8427267

2. What is Ajax?
The most important technology for building interactive
Web 2.0 applications

3. Who uses Ajax today?
Popularised by
• Microsoft's Outlook Web Access (2000)
• Gmail (2004)
• Google Maps (2005)
(Wikipedia, Ajax (programming), n. d.)

4. Basic idea of Ajax
Dynamically updated pages instead of full HTML page reloads
Benefits:
• More engaging user experience
• More responsive user interface
• Server bandwidth savings
(Ullman, n. d.)
Ajax Bandwidth Cost Benefit. (Usernomics, 2006 )

5. How Ajax work
AJAX = Asynchronous JavaScript And XML
• Asynchronous, event-driven programming model (Wikipedia - Event-driven programming, n. d.)
• Well-suited for creating desktop-like graphical user interfaces
(Wikipedia - Graphical user interfaces, n. d.)
• Full HTML page load only at startup
• After that, only incremental page updates (steps 1-4) (Rose India, 2006)
©2010 www.emxource.com

6. Advantages of Ajax
• Based on open web standards
• HTML
• CSS
• XML
• JavaScript
(W3Schools, n. d.)
• Access from any computer with Internet connection
• Special browser plug-ins or additional software not required
• Only a standards-compliant web browser is needed
• Continuous incremental updates are possible, no need to download
and install updates
(Laverty, 2011)

7. Future of Ajax
• Increasingly important role in an open, standards-based web
• Even Microsoft is supporting Ajax now
• HTML5 and Ajax is the future for delivering rich web-content
(Wikipedia - List of Ajax frameworks, n. d.)

8. References
Emxource.com. (n. d). How Ajax works? And how to use it?
Retrieved May 28, 2012, from http://www.emxource.com/?p=536
Laverty, S. (2011, July 29). What Are the Benefits of Ajax? [Web log post]
Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/info_10009378_benefits-ajax.html
Rose India. (2006, November 23). What is Ajax - Asynchronous JavaScript and XML.
Retrieved from http://www.roseindia.net/ajax/what-is-ajax.shtml
Ullman, C. (n. d.). What is Ajax?
Retrieved May 2, 2012, from http://www.wrox.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-303217.html
​
Usernomics. (2006, January 16). AJAX performance starts, ROI, and business value.
Retrieved May 29, 2012, from http://usabilitynews.usernomics.com/2006/01/ajax-performance-stats-roi-and.html
Wikipedia. (n. d.). Ajax (programming).
Retrieved May 3, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajax_(programming)
​
Wikipedia. (n. d.). Event-driven programming.
Retrieved May 3, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event-driven_programming
Wikipedia. (n. d.). Graphical user interfaces.
Retrieved May 3, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphical_user_interfaces
Wikipedia. (n. d.) List of Ajax frameworks.
Retrieved May 2, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ajax_frameworks
W3Schools. (n. d.). Ajax Introduction.
Retrieved from http://www.w3schools.com/ajax/ajax_intro.asp