Is Ajax a new technology, or the same old stuff web developers have been using for years? Both, actually. This book demonstrates not only how tried-and-true web standards make Ajax possible, but how these older technologies allow you to give sites a decidedly modern Web 2.0 feel. Ajax: The Definitive Guide explains how to use standards like JavaScript, XML, CSS, and XHTML, along with the XMLHttpRequest object, to build browser-based web applications that function like desktop programs. You get a complete background on what goes into today's web sites and applications, and learn to leverage these tools along with Ajax for advanced browser searching, web services, mashups, and more. You discover how to turn a web browser and web site into a true application, and why developing with Ajax is faster, easier and cheaper. The book also explains:

• How to connect server-side backend components to user interfaces in the browser

• Loading and manipulating XML documents, and how to replace XML with JSON

• Manipulating the Document Object Model (DOM)

• Designing Ajax interfaces for usability, functionality, visualization, and accessibility

• Site navigation layout, including issues with Ajax and the browser's back button

• Adding life to tables & lists, navigation boxes and windows

• Animation creation, interactive forms, and data validation

• Search, web services and mash-ups

• Applying Ajax to business communications, and creating Internet games without plug-ins

• The advantages of modular coding, ways to optimize Ajax applications, and more

This book also provides references to XML and XSLT, popular JavaScript Frameworks, Libraries, and Toolkits, and various Web Service APIs. By offering web developers a much broader set of tools and options, Ajax gives developers a new way to create content on the Web, while throwing off the constraints of the past. Ajax: The Definitive Guide describes the contents of this unique toolbox in exhaustive detail, and explains how to get the most out of it.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 13 Ratings

I must have forgotten to pick up the kitchen sink. Oh no i didn't it's this book. - 2009-07-20
Reviewer Rating:
Assuming you desire to learn AJAX then the short answer is to hit that back button and try something else.

If however you want to have a brief guide of the internet, computers, and various programming languages unrelated to AJAX then you should probably hit the back button and find books related specifically to those topics.

I am a programmer and I know how to use AJAX, which for the layman is a way to refresh content on a website without reloading the page. This book I read through because I figured it was the definitive guide, and might be able to provide some insights that I was unaware of regarding AJAX.

What I received for example, in chapter 21 was "internet games without plugins" which being a gamer i found an interesting title. I thought wow okay fine, how to use AJAX to make games without plugins.. that makes sense cause we don't have to refresh the page anymore! Instead was a history of different game genres and not a quip about how to program for them.

The large quantities of code have already been mentioned, and I thought there might have been some exaggeration. There is not. However, I thought well great... now i'll see lots of AJAX examples. Nope, nothing to do w/ajax.. everything to do with css,html,some javascript .. apis, mashups .. what?

Anyway, i just hope that i can save one person from giving away their money for a piece of junk that this book represents. Unless of course learning w/some sort of shotgun analogy then go right ahead.

First Experience with Amazon - 2010-02-01
Reviewer Rating:
This was my first experience purchasing products with amazon,
I was a little doubtful to buy with a new provider, because I don't buy so much on the Internet and because I live in a country out of the EU,(I live in Mexico), but I could buy and keep in contact with 3rd part providers all the time, in some products i could see the status on line in real time, and track the shipment.

in resume this was a very good experience and the products came in time and perfect conditions.

i really recommend to buy in amazon

Not a Good Starter Book For Ajax - 2010-01-22
Reviewer Rating:
I got this book to learn a little AJAX; I'm often curiuos how stuff works behind the scenes. I've been a fan of this series for years and loved JavaScript: The Definitive Guide, but I found this really hard to get through. It's sort of like reading the phone book, full of information, but dry as a bone. If you don't have a pretty good knowledge of XML, CSS, and XHTML already you won't learn enough here to help you.

Let me be clear, this is not a book that will teach you some AJAX tricks for your website. I find that a better way to learn, by seeing the little bits and then building to bigger and better things. I made it about half way through before I just lost interest and it's been sitting on the table ever since gathering dust ever since. If you're a devloper or really know what you're doing already and want to gain some better knowledge or some new ideas, then this is a good book. If you're just starting out or a casual user then you should definitely start with a different book.

For CSS, CSS: The Missing Manual was a well written and easy read. If that series ever does an AJAX book or just for learning the supporting pieces of AJAX bit by bit, you might try those books.

Too advanced! - 2009-11-29
Reviewer Rating:
This is not the book to get if you are just beginning with JavaScript and/or CSS. The book is packed with rather advanced JS and CSS, and I have to say that this is the main focus. Not much explaining Ajax rather than advanced CSS I think.

I can't just understand why the writer have so much focus on using frameworks in this book. The main goal should be teaching Ajax.

Guess this book come in handy after some years of experience with JS and CSS.

Good if you're looking for a cookbook - 2009-09-03
Reviewer Rating:
This book was pretty straightforward and clear in its explanation of the various pieces of Ajax. This portion of the book only comprises the first 200 pages though so if you're not looking for an Ajax cookbook this isn't the book for you. Also, this book doesn't go through the various Ajax frameworks in any depth.

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