This book aims to explore Ajax and its practical implementation/usage in a professional Web site/application environment. The book will explore the technologies behind Ajax, different Ajax usage models, and why the Ajax model is better than the traditional "click and wait" Web model. Ajax theory as well as implementation using a variety of server-side languages (such as PHP and .Net) will be discussed in order to give the reader all the practical knowledge necessary to implement his/her own Ajax solutions.

What you will learn from this book

- Different methods for achieving Ajax
   Communication and when to use each
- A variety of Ajax design patterns to use in specific
   data retrieval circumstances
- Techniques for using Ajax with RSS and Atom to
   Produce a Web-based news aggregator
- How to use JavaScript Object Notation as an
   alternate data transmission format for Ajax
   communications
- How to create Ajax widgets, such as a weather
   display and news ticker, that can be included in your
   web site

Chapter 1: What is Ajax?
Chapter 2: Ajax Basics
Chapter 3: Ajax Patterns
Chapter 4: XML, XPath, and XSLT
Chapter 5: Syndication with RSS/Atom
Chapter 6: Web Services
Chapter 7: JSON
Chapter 8: Web Site Widgets
Chapter 9: AjaxMail
Chapter 10: Ajax Frameworks

Who this book is for

This book is for web developers who want to enhance the usability of their sites and applications. Familiarity with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS is necessary, as is experience with a server-side language such as PHP or a .NET language.