Chapter 1. Implementing AJAX-Style Asynchronous Partial-Page Updates with the New ASP.NET AJAX UpdatePanel Control

One of the ways that Ajax (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) web applications differ from classical web applications is in how they communicate with the server. AJAX applications use client script to update parts of a page instead of postbacks, which refresh the entire page. This technique results in more fluid and responsive applications with much greater appeal to the user.

The ASP.NET AJAX UpdatePanel control greatly simplifies the work of adding this functionality to your ASP.NET 2.0 applications. This PDF begins with a quick tutorial on the control itself (see "Introducing the Update Panel Control"). Later, you'll see how it can improve the interactivity of an ASP.NET Wizard control, a master/details page for the AdventureWorks database, and a search page with a details preview for the same database. Finally, you'll learn how to display errors associated with UpdatePanel updates and how to deal with a number of its peculiarities.