A Comprehensive Guide to the AJAX Technology

AJAX has become one of the most popular terms in the tech world. The application of AJAX has been increasing constantly. AJAX is an acronym for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. It is the latest technology used to create web applications that are more interactive, faster, and better. It supports languages such as XML, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. XHTML supports the content, CSS is used for presentation and JavaScript is used for dynamic content display.

How does it work?

The traditional web applications transfer the information to and from the server by sending them asynchronous requests. When you hit submit with the help of AJAX, it requests the server which then interprets the result and updates the screen. With AJAX, the user cannot find out that any information was transferred to the server. The server data is received in XML format. Ajax works independently of the web server software technology. 

AJAX for Magento 2

Magento is an open-source platform that helps retailers and wholesalers set up e-commerce stores. AJAX is used in Magento 2 to improve the experience of the customers. 

Lazy loading for Magento 2

Lazy loading technology for Magento 2 uses AJAX extension which helps speed up the website. Lazy loading is a technique of serving the customers with certain web images at the time when they are needed. 

Magento 2 layered navigation

Magento 2 Layered navigation uses AJAX technology to improve the experience of the user while shopping. The AJAX technology is used to improve the filtering system to increase customer satisfaction. It helps the customers save their precious time. 

Magento 2 AJAX cart

The AJAX technology in Magento 2 is used to facilitate the shopping experience of customers. It allows the customers to add products to their shopping cart instantly at a single click within a pop-up. It significantly reduces the waiting time of the customers thereby enhancing the shopping experience.

Magento 2 AJAX search

This technology saves customer’s time by helping them find the search results as soon as they start typing in the search bar. They don’t have to type the full name and can still find the most accurate results instantly.

What are the Advantages of AJAX technology?

Every technology has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let us look at some of the advantages of AJAX technology. 

• High Speed and Less server traffic:

  AJAX technology is highly effective in reducing server traffic and increasing speed. It allows applications to run without data, which leads to a reduction in the inside server traffic requests. Lesser traffic on the server ensures better loading speed thereby improving the customer experience and increasing customer satisfaction levels. It improves the overall user experience of the web applications 

• Enables Asynchronous calls:

  It enables asynchronous calls by allowing lazy loading on the website. Lazy loading is a technique that is used to increase the loading speed of a website. It delays loading the images that the user will likely see later. In simple words, images are loaded only when they are needed to be viewed. It also allows the visitors to make asynchronous calls without having to wait for the entire webpage to load. 

• XMLHttpRequest:

  This type of request is used for sending requests to the AJAX pages. It helps the application of AJAX technology in web development. It is used for manipulating the XML data to establish a connection between the client-side and server. 

• Reduces bandwidth usage:

  A less bandwidth usage helps improve the website performance and website loading speed. It uses the server bandwidth and fetches pieces of content rather than transferring the entire page content. It again helps improve the website’s loading speed and improve the overall performance of the website. A better user experience leads to more conversions and more website views and engagement. 

• Validation of Form:

  AJAX technology makes form validation easier. Unlike traditional submissions where validation takes place after the form submission, AJAX allows immediate form validation.

• User-Friendly:

  AJAX technology makes the web application significantly faster, user-friendly, and responsive. It helps increase user engagement, increases conversions, and retain the existing customers.

What are the disadvantages of AJAX technology?

Listed below are some of the disadvantages of AJAX technology. 

• Lack of security:

  AJAX is an open-source platform. This means that it can be viewed by anyone on the internet by just viewing the source code of the website. The source code written for AJAX can be seen by anyone which makes it prone to information leakages and makes it less secure when compared to other similar technologies. This is one of the major drawbacks of this technology. 

• Indexation is not possible:

  Google is unable to index the pages of AJAX. Not just Google but it cannot be indexed by any of the search engines. 

• Bugs and security issues:

  The issue of bugs is very frequent in AJAX pages. Using AJAX can cause you to have difficulties with your website and make them vulnerable to the security and safety issues that might arise in the future. 

• Dependent on JavaScript:

  AJAX technology is highly dependent on JavaScript. Not all browsers support Ajax pages. Only browsers that support JavaScript or an XMLHttpRequest can make use of the pages with Ajax technology. 

• Difficult to Bookmark:

  A specific condition of the website cannot be bookmarked because of the highly dynamic nature of the AJAX pages. It becomes challenging to bookmark a certain application. 

• Increase in development and design time:

  It can lead to a significant increase in the development and designing time. 

• The AJAX system is very complex in nature and difficult to build.
• The browsers in which JavaScript is disabled cannot use AJAX-based applications.
• It can be implemented only by someone who has knowledge about the API layer of the server. 

Ajax technology is very helpful in making web applications interactive, user-friendly, and well-performing. It is the buzzword in the tech world and is very popular among web developers. It has been used in Magento 2 to improve the user’s shopping experience. However, every technology has both pros and cons.