When it comes to offering a rich and dynamic user experience, Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) delivers in every possible way. This technology is designed to deliver the complete user experience while offering AJAX applications the look and feel of desktop applications, which makes it an extremely useful technology for a wide range of reasons. So, with this in mind, what are the benefits of using AJAX?
It delivers a superb user experience
Through the exchange of a small amount of data with the server, AJAX makes it possible to carry out the updating of web pages with minimal disruption to the rest of the page. Therefore, this means that when a certain part of a web page requires updating, there is no requirement to reload the full page. As a result of this, AJAX offers enhanced performance and it facilitates faster browsing speeds, therefore enhancing the user experience.
An increased level of user productivity
Productivity is enhanced because of the way in which the AJAX library has object orientated helper functions. An ASP.NET application that has been correctly configured will have a business layer and a data access layer. There is a UI layer included in the ASP.NET application that facilitates the server side operations. If those features are included the AJAX will only need an extra layer of AJAX-specific services and a small amount of enhancement with respect to client features. This can help to reduce the cost of deployment and improve productivity.
Improved level of compatibility
AJAX is compatible with a wide range of languages including PHP, J2EE, and ASP.NET. It also supports a wide range of well-known browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Opera.
Asynchronous processing is supported
Through XMLHttpRequest, asynchronous data process is possible as it forms the backbone of AJAX applications. As a result of this, requests are dealt with efficiently while dynamic content loading delivers a higher height by improving the performance by a considerable amount.
Navigation that is simple
AJAX applications can be developed in a way that removes the need for the traditional forward and back buttons that are a familiar sight on websites. This enables a faster and more efficient transition between pages.
Reduction in Bandwidth usage and faster speed
In order to communicate with the web server and to facilitate the exchange of data with JavaScript, AJAX uses client-side scripting. Therefore, when using AJAX, it will mean that the amount of bandwidth used will be reduced and this eases the workload on the network through the retrieval of the required data to provide smoother interfaces and improved response times. Response time is vastly improved and that means an increase in speed and performance.
It is compact
Using AJAX makes it possible for a number of multi-purpose applications along with features that can be handled using one single page. This removes the need to for clutter by removing the need for several web pages.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that AJAX is an impressive technology that brings with it a number of benefits. When used within a website, the enhanced speed, reduced bandwidth and the higher level of compatibility make it a great choice.