General Information Information on all the Latest General Topics

Ajax Information

Ajax is fast becoming the most favorite programming tool used in most web pages today. Ajax means Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. But don't get it wrong – Ajax isn't an entirely new programming language. It is a combination of one or more web applications, programs, and tools to come up with a more interactive and user-friendly interface for online users.

The word "Ajax" was first used by Jesse James Garrett, a programmer who had come up with the term as he was explaining the new applications embodied in the technology he formed to a client. Ajax was virtually born in February of 2005, although it was believed that Microsoft is developing something like it, under the project they call Remote Scripting.

The popular use of Ajax in today's web pages is triggered by the web master's need for a fast loading, better interface, and low maintenance web pages. Ajax is capable of dynamic web page update and lowering the bandwidth required by an online application. Because of this, users can enjoy the web pages more, without waiting for it to load half the time.

But of course, no matter how good a new technology is, there are still some refinement needed. For one thing, Ajax can't be fully integrated into the browser just yet. This means the moment the user clicks on the "back" button of the browser to view the previous pages those pages won't load as correctly as it should. Why? It's because Ajax-based programs don't register to the history of the browser. The only way to go around this issue is to refresh the page or type the exact URL again.

Besides, the JavaScript that Ajax use, which incidentally is its main framework, is yet to be standardized on all browsers. There are instances that browsers like Opera and Firefox can display the Ajax page fine, but Internet Explorer and Netscape can't. For this problem, multiple coding is needed so that all browsers can understand the program.

But at the end of the day, the use of Ajax on web pages is still dependent on which online programs to run and the requirement that the said program needs. If the disadvantages of using Ajax's can surpass all its disadvantages, then using the program would be well worth it. And if you are a web master, you might need to develop new skills in creating Ajax-based applications as early as now – you never know what enormous improvement the future might bring for this particular technology.