If you haven’t figured it out yet AJAX is not a technology, a language, or anything that monumental. I’m not really saying anything new here. In fact, I’m sure you have already heard, AJAX is anything but new.

In my opinion, AJAX is a methodology that only recently has been fine tuned into a real concept. The concept is simple; AJAX implies a webpage that makes transparent calls to server stored data or client-side stored data without a page refresh in order to update the page based off the acquired data. What I don’t like about the name is the concept is general while the name implies Javascript and XML. What I mean is, to a certain extent flash, Flex, and Openlaszlo could be considered AJAX but might never use Javascript or XML. Really the name does not make sense if you consider AJAX to be a methodology. Enough about that! I’m tired of reading about a new name to a concept that has been around for a while.

What’s interesting to me is the real world work that translates the AJAX methodology into a reality. I’m sure you have seen google maps and gmail mail but have you seen the Amazon diamond search yet? It extends the concept of a live search, except the diamond search is specific/tailored for diamonds. Or what about the Panic Goods shopping experience. Both are good examples of things to come.

What about the tool kits popping up to help us developers created online applications that do not require linear usage or constant page reloads. Prototype, Backbase, DWR, Dojo Toolkit, Toxic for PHP, and SAJAX are all very intriguing to me. However if dealing with browser inconsistencies are not your cup of tea. OpenLazlo, Flex, and Flash to a certain extent could be considered AJAX without have to dealing with browser & OS quirks. These options all require the flash player and with that goes the usual obstacles.

Really I’m just excited about the methodology more than another acronym signifying my geekish occupation. Why? Because AJAX promotes the overdue respect & acknowledgement client-side coders deserve in regards to the legitimate and crucial contributions we have made to the development of websites and web applications for years.

BTW – The following are a list of articles I have really enjoyed pertaining to the AJAX hype.

• AJAX Interface Design Article
• Emerging from the Shower
• Flash RIAs vs. Javascript RIAs
• Javascript RIAs come of age
• Ajax, it’s nothing new. But so what?
• AJAX and Accessibility
• Dynamic HTML and XML: The XMLHttpRequest Object
• XMLHttpRequest for The Masses
• Guide to Using XMLHttpRequest
• Ajax, promise or hype?
• This is not another XMLHttpRequest article
• BlahBlah Finance