Chapter 2. First steps with Ajax

This chapter covers

  • Introducing the technologies behind Ajax
  • Using Cascading Style Sheets to define look and feel
  • Using the Document Object Model to define the user interface structure
  • Using XMLHttpRequest to asynchronously contact the server
  • Putting the pieces together

In chapter 1 we focused on users and how Ajax can assist them in their daily activities. Most of us are developers, and so, having convinced ourselves that Ajax is a Good Thing, we need to know how to work with it. The good news is that, as with many brand-new, shiny technologies, most of this process will be reasonably familiar already, particularly if you’ve worked with the Internet.

In this chapter, we’ll explain the Ajax technology. ...

Get Ajax in Action now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.