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FAQs:

Q.

Did Google invent Ajax? Did Adaptive Path help build Google's Ajax applications?

A.

Google did not invent Ajax. Google's recent products are simply the highest-profile examples of Ajax applications.

Q.

Is anyone selling Ajax components or trademarking the name? Where can I download it?

A.

Ajax isn't something we can download. It's an approach — a way of thinking about the architecture of web applications using certain technologies.

Q.

Is Ajax just another name for XMLHttpRequest?

A.

No. XMLHttpRequest is only part of the Ajax equation. XMLHttpRequest is the technical component that makes the asynchronous server communication possible; Ajax is our name for the overall approach described in the article, which relies not only on XMLHttpRequest, but on CSS, DOM, and other technologies.

Q.

Techniques for asynchronous server communication have been around for years. What makes Ajax a "new" approach?

A.

What's new is the prominent use of these techniques in real-world applications to change the fundamental interaction model of the Web. Ajax is taking hold now because these technologies and the industry's understanding of how to deploy them most effectively have taken time to develop.

Q.

Is Ajax a technology platform or is it an architectural style?

A.

It's both. Ajax is a set of technologies being used together in a particular way.

Q.

What kinds of applications is Ajax best suited for?

A.

We don't know yet. Because this is a relatively new approach, our understanding of where Ajax can best be applied is still in its infancy. Sometimes the traditional web application model is the most appropriate solution to a problem.

Q.

Does this mean Ajax is anti-Flash?

A.

Not at all. There have been supporters of Flash technology since years. As Ajax matures, we expect that sometimes Ajax will be the better solution to a particular problem, and sometimes Flash will be the better solution. We're also interested in exploring ways the technologies can be mixed (as in the case of Flickr.com, which uses both).

Q.

Does Ajax have significant accessibility or browser compatibility limitations? Do Ajax applications break the back button? Is Ajax compatible with REST? Are there security considerations with Ajax development? Can Ajax applications be made to work for users who have JavaScript turned off?

A.

The answer to all of these questions is "maybe". Many developers are already working on ways to address these concerns. We think there's more work to be done to determine all the limitations of Ajax, and we expect the Ajax development community to uncover more issues like these along the way.

Q.

Some of the Google examples we cite don't use XML at all. Do I have to use XML and/or XSLT in an Ajax application?

A.

No. XML is the most fully-developed means of getting data in and out of an Ajax client, but there's no reason we couldn't accomplish the same effects using a technology like JavaScript Object Notation or any similar means of structuring data for interchange.

Q.

Are Ajax applications easier to develop than traditional web applications?

A.

Not necessarily. Ajax applications inevitably involve running complex JavaScript code on the client. Making that complex code efficient and bug-free is not a task to be taken lightly, and better development tools and frameworks will be needed to help us meet that challenge.

Q.

Do Ajax applications always deliver a better experience than traditional web applications?

A.

Not necessarily. Ajax gives interaction designers more flexibility. However, the more power we have, the more caution we must use in exercising it. We must be careful to use Ajax to enhance the user experience of our applications, not degrade it.