Ajax, or Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, is a relatively new buzz word that is being thrown around in the Web 2.0 community. Ajax can give your website a ton of new functionality and your users a better experience, but I will start from the basics and give the most used examples. They are as follows:

1. The ability to make server requests without reloading the page. This means someone can register, vote, login, etc without having the annoying refresh type feeling or getting redirected to another page. The best usage of this can be seen on digg.com or newsvine.com.

Example 1: Digg.com
It is most evident on digg when you vote. When you digg a story watch the number go up. In a normal browser this would not be possible and most likely the page would have to reload giving you that refresh type feeling.

Example 2: Newsvine.com
In newsvine the best way to see Ajax in action is by pressing the “register button”. You’ll see the registration form come up right there on the page. Unlike a pop-up this is not a new page but a changing of the page you are already one.

Best Ajax Resources
A great resource for AJAX, and where I learned a majority of what I know is from the article from the mozilla development center which can be read at mozilla development center - ajax.

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