Head First Ajax

Ajax is no longer an experimental approach to website development, but the key to building browser-based applications that form the cornerstone of Web 2.0. Head First Ajax gives you an up-to-date perspective that lets you see exactly what you can do — and has been done — with Ajax. With it, you get a highly practical, in-depth, and mature view of what is now a mature development approach.

Using the unique and highly effective visual format that has turned Head First titles into runaway bestsellers, this book offers a big picture overview to introduce Ajax, and then explores the use of individual Ajax components — including the JavaScript event model, DOM, XML, JSON, and more — as it progresses. You’ll find plenty of sample applications that illustrate the concepts, along with exercises, quizzes, and other interactive features to help you retain what you’ve learned.

Head First Ajax covers:

• The JavaScript event model
• Making Ajax requests with XMLHTTPREQUEST objects
• The asynchronous application model
• The Document Object Model (DOM)
• Manipulating the DOM in JavaScript
• Controlling the browser with the Browser Object Model
• XHTML Forms
• POST Requests
• XML Syntax and the XML DOM tree
• XML Requests & Responses
• JSON — an alternative to XML
• Ajax architecture & patterns
• The Prototype Library

The book also discusses the server-side implications of building Ajax applications, and uses a “black box” approach to server-side components.

Head First Ajax is the ideal guide for experienced web developers comfortable with scripting — particularly those who have completed the exercises in Head First JavaScript — and for experienced programmers in Java, PHP, and C# who want to learn client-side programming.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Using Ajax: Web Apps for a New Generation
Chapter 2. Designing Ajax Applications: Thinking Ajaxian
Chapter 3. Javascript Events: Reacting to your users
Chapter 4. Multiple Event Handlers: Two’s Company
Chapter 5. Asynchronous Applications: It’s Like Renewing Your Driver’s License
Chapter 6. The Document Object Model: Web Page Forestry
Chapter 7. Manipulating the DOM: My Wish is Your Command
Chapter 8. Frameworks and Toolkits: Trust No One
Chapter 9. XML Requests and Responses: More Than Words Can Say
Chapter 10. JSON: SON of JavaScript
Chapter 11. Forms and Validation: Say What You Meant to Say
Chapter 12. Post Requests: Paranoia: It’s Your Friend

Appendix I: Top Five Topics We Didn’t Cover
Appendix II: Utility Functions