JavaScript and Ajax

JavaScript has undergone something of a renaissance in the last couple of years. Formally known as something that was riddled with browser inconsistencies, hard to work with and problematic, it is now better understood, better supported (by web browsers) and is starting to be viewed in the same way as cascading style sheets – as a way of progressively enhancing a website.

highly visible JavaScript is unobtrusive and is used to passively enhance the user experience. A site will not cease to function when JavaScript isn’t available. This Wikipedia article explains in more detail the principles of unobtrusive JavaScript.

I frequently use the JQuery Javascript library which speeds up Javascript and Ajax development by factoring out many of the browser inconsistencies that still exist.

Ajax is used sparingly in my web applications. I use it only where it will aide in the usability or usefulness of an application, not because it “looks cool” or is the latest trick or fad. Ajax can add an extra level of interactivity to a website when used in moderation but if used without restraint can make a website annoying and impractical to use.