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ColdFusion and AJAX
04/21/2006, By Jeffry Houser



AJAX stands for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. It's not a single technology, but rather a combination of different technologies that are used to create a Rich Internet Application feel. You've probably seen examples of this kind of application. Google uses AJAX a lot on such services as maps.google.com. After bringing up a location, you can click and drag the map, zoom in or out, or even bring up directions to and from the location. All this is done without any screen refreshes. You have to admit that the interface is pretty sweet.

Since AJAX is a combination of technologies you're going to want to know what you're getting into before going any farther, right? I thought so.

Here's the list:

  • XHTML: To start with you need a display language. Most resources on AJAX say you have to use XHTML, but regular HTML will work too.


  • XMLHttpRequest: The XMLHttpRequest object lets you retrieve data from the server without refreshing the page. It's a JavaScript object implemented in most major browsers. As the XMLHttpRequest object is being called, the user can do other things on the page. This is where the "asynchronous" part of the acronym comes in.


  • iFrames: iFrames are in-line frames and are sometimes used as an alternative to the XMLHttpRequest object. A regular frame will divide the browser window into multiple separate pages, but an in-line frame embeds one page inside another. I won't get into any iFrames details in this article.


  • XML: You all know what XML is, right? As a refresher, it's a way to describe data. If you need more details, read the article to know more about XML.


  • Document Object Model: The document object model defines your HTML page through a programmer API.


  • JavaScript: I'm sure you all know what JavaScript is too. It's the most common language used for providing client-side functionality to HTML pages.


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