Ajax (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) technologies have become increasingly popular in webpage design. With Ajax development, you can submit form data to the server without refreshing the page. Let’s say you are filling out an online registration form. You enter your username, email address, and other details, and submit the form. At the server end, it detects that the username has already been taken by another user. It generates an error message and asks you to choose a different username. Without Ajax, you would have to fill out the entire form again, unless the server sends your data back to you through a query string. Additionally, sending personal information through a query string is not very secure. In such cases, submitting data through Ajax development is the best solution. Another useful feature of Ajax development is the ability to send custom data (such as the user’s IP address) that is not part of the form fields.
Ajax data submission, like traditional data submission, can be of two types: GET and POST. The relative merits and demerits are the same as traditional data submission.
Here’s how data is submitted using Ajax:
- When the user submits data by pressing a submit button or clicking a submit link, a JavaScript function is called.
- This function establishes a connection with the server using the XML HTTP REQUEST object. Once the connection is established, the data from the form fields is sent to the server.
- When the server response is received, another JavaScript function is triggered. This function then takes the necessary actions based on the response text from the server.
Benefits and disadvantages of Ajax:
- Ajax submission is faster than traditional form submission because the entire page is not reloaded.
- It provides a more user-friendly experience.
- Ajax technologies are not limited to form data submission; they are widely used in dynamic menu design, collecting data for web statistical analysis, or dynamically reloading the entire page.
- Some users disable JavaScript in their browsers, and in these cases, Ajax does not work.
- As data is dynamically loaded, the browser’s internet history is not accessible. This means you cannot reload the page using the browser’s back button.
Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME