Ajax or Asynchronous
JavaScript and XML is a term describing a web development technique for creating interactive web applications using a combination of:
- HTML (or XHTML) and CSS for presenting information
- The Document Object Model manipulated through JavaScript to dynamically display and interact with the information presented
- The XMLHttpRequest object to exchange data asynchronously with the web server. (XML is commonly used, although any text format will work, including preformatted HTML, plain text, and JSON)
Like DHTML, LAMP, or SPA, Ajax is not a technology in itself, but a term that refers to the use of a group of technologies together. In fact, derivative/composite technologies based substantially upon Ajax, such as AFLAX are already appearing.
Ajax applications use web browsers that support the above technologies as a platform to run on. Browsers that support these technologies include Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Opera, Konqueror and Apple Safari.