AJAX

AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is a technique used in web development to make asynchronous requests to a server without reloading the entire web page. It allows for dynamic updates of web content, improving user experience and interactivity.

Key Characteristics of AJAX

• Asynchronous communication with the server
• Updates specific parts of a web page without full page reloads
• Enhances user experience by providing smoother interactions

Types of APIs for AJAX

1. XMLHttpRequest (XHR)

• The original API for making AJAX requests
• Supported in all browsers and Node.js
• Considered low-level and somewhat clunky to use
• Example:

  const xhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
  xhttp.onload = function() {
  document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = this.responseText;
  }
  xhr.timeout = 10000;
  xhttp.open("GET", "ajax_info.txt", true);
  xhttp.send();
  

2. Fetch API

• A newer, more modern API for making HTTP requests
• Uses Promises for handling responses
• Simpler syntax compared to XHR
• Example:

  fetch('http://example.com/api/users')
  .then(response => response.json())
  .then(users => {
    // Handle user data
  });
  

3. Axios

• A popular third-party library for making HTTP requests
• Provides a simpler API compared to XHR
• Automatically handles JSON parsing
• Supports request and response interceptors

4. jQuery AJAX

• Part of the jQuery library
• Offers a higher-level API for making AJAX requests
• Historically popular due to cross-browser compatibility

These APIs allow developers to choose the most suitable option for their project, balancing factors such as browser support, ease of use, and additional features.

References

• [1] https://blog.isquaredsoftware.com/2020/11/how-web-apps-work-ajax-apis-data/
• [2] https://aws.amazon.com/what-is/ajax/
• [3] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskComputerScience/comments/s7m1u8/what_exactly_is_ajax_and_rest/
• [4] https://wesbos.com/javascript/13-ajax-and-fetching-data/74-ajax-and-apis/
• [5] https://stackoverflow.com/questions/23054764/can-someone-explain-the-difference-between-ajax-and-rest/23054929