Ajax is no longer an experimental approach to website development, but the key to building browser-based applications that form the cornerstone of Web 2.0. Head First Ajax gives you an up-to-date perspective that lets you see exactly what you can do -- and has been done -- with Ajax. With it, you get a highly practical, in-depth, and mature view of what is now a mature development approach. Using the unique and highly effective visual format that has turned Head First titles into runaway bestsellers, this book offers a big picture overview to introduce Ajax, and then explores the use of individual Ajax components -- including the JavaScript event model, DOM, XML, JSON, and more -- as it progresses. You'll find plenty of sample applications that illustrate the concepts, along with exercises, quizzes, and other interactive features to help you retain what you've learned. Head First Ajax covers:

• The JavaScript event model

• Making Ajax requests with XMLHTTPREQUEST objects

• The asynchronous application model

• The Document Object Model (DOM)

• Manipulating the DOM in JavaScript

• Controlling the browser with the Browser Object Model

• XHTML Forms

• POST Requests

• XML Syntax and the XML DOM tree

• XML Requests & Responses

• JSON -- an alternative to XML

• Ajax architecture & patterns

• The Prototype Library

The book also discusses the server-side implications of building Ajax applications, and uses a "black box" approach to server-side components. Head First Ajax is the ideal guide for experienced web developers comfortable with scripting -- particularly those who have completed the exercises in Head First JavaScript -- and for experienced programmers in Java, PHP, and C# who want to learn client-side programming.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 17 Ratings

Don't waste your money - 2009-12-19
Reviewer Rating:
While the concept of the book is excellent, the examples simply do not work. There is a forum on O'Reilly's web site, but they refuse to offer any solutions to any problems in the text.

There is no errata and no support whatsoever.

Avoid this book if you value your sanity.

Too many errors and no corrections on the Head First site. - 2009-09-12
Reviewer Rating:
This book is not for the person learning on their own, or not in a class. Yes, I agree, Head First presentation is humorous, easy to read, etc., but there are many errors in syntax and code in this book. One needs to set up a server on their computer to run the code. In chapter 1 it says there is info in the Appendix "i", "the top ten topics we didn't cover", but there are only five, and the missing five are not online. I thought the problems were with the server I set up, but other code ran fine. The problem was the code itself. I could fix the syntax and typo errors, but being the student, I am not able to correct the code. It took me two days to figure out the code was the problem. When I saw there were errors in the second chapter also, I quit, and went looking for a better text. Maybe it was rushed to press, and not type read, but after a year, you'd expect that at least the files one downloads for the lessons would have been corrected. Head First was Head Dropped on this one.

Good writing lousy exercises - 2010-01-23
Reviewer Rating:
I am a fan of the Head First books. The explanations and examples in Head First Ajax are pretty good. The book helped me understand the concepts, but I was repeatedly frustrated with issues in the exercises. The forums helped with some of the issues, and the final code helped with others. Correct the exercises and this would be another 5 star Head First book.

A great introduction to Ajax! - 2009-12-29
Reviewer Rating:
If you're new to anything that Head First offers a book for, I strongly recommend you start with them. Their books aren't the most in depth, but they do a great job of introducing the concepts and helping you wrap your head around the technology.

Different but Fun Learning Style - 2009-09-13
Reviewer Rating:
I liked the interesting "head-frst" learning style. Still have yet to work real seriously with it yet to see how well it really works.

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