Ajax? asynchronous JavaScript and XML better known as Remote Scripting

Well it looks like theres some push behind the AJAX naming now. I believe it stands for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML and translates into this easy to understand list.

  • standards-based presentation using XHTML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS);
  • dynamic display and interaction using the Document Object Model;
  • data interchange and manipulation using XML and XSLT;
  • asynchronous data retrieval using XMLHttpRequest;
  • and JavaScript binding everything together.

I couldnt give a crap what its called but certainly the way to do rich interaction in the browser without using Flash or anything non standard. Its all interesting because about 3-5 years ago Standard CSS and XHTML was becoming accepted in the modern browsers, and a standard browser DOM or javascript was along way off. Now it seems were hitting the point of where you can use standard javascript across all modern browsers. Which is indeed a good step forward.

Sam Ruby considers Ajax harmful but seems to have more a problem with bad use of it. Paul vents his frustration with others on the naming of Ajax. Dare covers the whole Ajax issue once and for all

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Author: Ianforrester

Senior firestarter at BBC R&D, emergent technology expert and serial social geek event organiser. Can be found at cubicgarden@mas.to, cubicgarden@twit.social and cubicgarden@blacktwitter.io