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JavaScript AJAX Basics (retiring) Programming AJAX Parsing JSON Data

Andrei Li
Andrei Li
34,486 Points
Posted by Andrei Li
Andrei Li
34,486 Points

The structure and logic behind 4 steps of AJAX

Let's define what 4 steps of AJAX are for:

  1. Perfectly clear we assign AJAX object to the variable.
  2. We check that everything is fine with connection and AJAX status.
  3. We process received information. Or I am wrong? As far as understood this should be an information that server sends to the browser (client). So it might be a JSON, HTML or a link to the HTML. This line is responsible for proccessing information from the server.Am I wrong?
  4. We send information from step 2 to the server. Please, help me clarify the issue. Many thanks!

2 Answers

Alexander La Bianca
Alexander La Bianca
15,959 Points

Let me explain quickly with the following example:

function loadDoc() {
  //step 1. as you clearly understand
  var xhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
  //step 2. Here you are defining the function that should run once the data is 'ready' 
  xhttp.onreadystatechange = function() {
    if (this.readyState == 4 && this.status == 200) {
     document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = this.responseText;
    }
  };
  //step 3. Define what type of request you are making (param 1) and where you are making that request to (param 2)
  //you are also setting a boolean if the request should be asynchronous (param 3) . Note: that should always be true
  xhttp.open("GET", "ajax_info.txt", true);
  //step 4. Send the request to the server resource you defined in step 3. 
  xhttp.send();
}

Now this is the usual way to set up the request, but they don't run in that order since it is asynchronous hence 'AJAX' ;) The function you define in step 2 actually runs AFTER step 4 is executed.

In step 2, you can access the response from the server via accessing xhttp's context. In this exmaple -> this.responseText for exmaple

Andrei Li
Andrei Li
34,486 Points
Andrei Li
Andrei Li
34,486 Points

Ok. Thanks! It clarifies a topic.