In other words, Javascript. AJAX stands for (depending on who you ask), Asynchronous Javascript And XML.BlackAura wrote:AJAX is a dodgy acronym. Basically, it's just the ability to make requests to a webserver from JavaScript, retrieve a document (usually XML or HTML) and do something with it (either display it, or pull information out of it and display that). It allows you to write applications that can communicate with a web server without needing to constantly reload the page. Stuff like Gmail and Google Maps runs on it.
It works pretty much as BlackAura describes. The page makes a request to the server, the server processes it and puts it somewhere the page can call it from and notifies the page that it is done. The page then reads this file and updates the current itself with the new information.
It is supposed to make the web-application experience more seamless and less tit-for-tat.
It also has a habit of "breaking the back button". And it is also the new buzzword, although "AJAX" technology has been around for a while now. People are just now using the pieces in this manner.
Just thought I'd expound a little on BA's post.