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AJAX




The technical term AJAX is an acronym for English (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML). Denotes a technique based on JavaScript technology that changes communication with the server and speeds up web apps. The interfaces work faster with delayed (asynchronous) data transfer. With AJAX, web apps can exchange data with the server in the background without having to reload the entire page.

Additional software that acts between the browser and the server automatically ensures that large parts of the HTML page are displayed, while user requests are handled on the server in the background. The user interface is updated as needed piece by piece.

Therefore, it is not necessary to reload all the content of a website with each click, but only the data that is simply necessary. Many web apps were made possible after 2005 through AJAX, because users no longer had to wait for a full screen reload. The Google Maps app can, for example, display the desired map clippings and city plans in a matter of seconds.

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Components

AJAX is not a programming language, but a combination of various existing standards. According to Jesse James Garrett, who coined the name AJAX, the following technologies are included: HTML (or XHTML) and CSS for building and formatting web forms, the Document Object Model (DOM) for data interaction, XML (or an identical technology ) for data exchange and JavaScript as the core piece of code for communications with the server.

Contrast with the classic web app

Traditional web apps store large amounts of data for each user input at once, so pauses and waits occur during execution. Whereas AJAX buffers data repeatedly so that only parts of the UI exist to reload and very little is lost during connection interruptions. Previously, the interaction between servers and users was dominated by long requests from the browser to the server and users had to wait for extensive data storage processes to get the solution.

The AJAX technique eliminate any delay. It works directly in the web browser and executes operations such as data validation without having to consult the server each time. You can change the user interface, including when it sends and receives data from the server. Therefore, the exchange of data with the server is independent of user input.

Development

Jesse James Garrett of the Adaptive Path Agency was probably the first to use the term AJAX in his post "Ajax: A New Approach to Web Applications" released on February 18, 2005, or at least he was a very strong influence on any case. The arguments of his treatise were not unknown until now, but this combination of technologies has been a topic of discussion under the term AJAX in the media only since 2005, mainly since Google has been using this asynchronous communication technology in some apps. well known as Google Maps, Google Groups or Gmail.

This technology is of great importance for future products in the industry. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) introduced an official web standard for Ajax on April 5, 2006.

Examples of AJAX apps

Almost all web browsers can run AJAX in their latest versions. One of the most recognized AJAX apps is undoubtedly Google Suggest. After each letter, a request is sent to the server to match the queries, which will be displayed below the search box as a suggestion.

Other typical apps supported by AJAX are the virtual maps like Google Maps or OpenStreetMap, mail programs like Gmail, Office apps like AjaxWrite or iRows. Most social media channels like Facebook or Flickr also use AJAX technology.

Importance for SEO

In terms of search engine optimization, when using AJAX you have to make sure that the content of your website remains traceable by Google.

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