Introduction to AJAX and Mini-Projects

Overview

Class Central Tips

Begin your journey into AJAX with this comprehensive course designed to teach you the principles and practical applications of asynchronous web requests. You will start with an introduction to AJAX, understanding its origins and how it differs from traditional synchronous HTTP requests. Through detailed explanations and examples, you'll learn to write AJAX requests using both the XMLHttpRequest object and the modern Fetch API. The course includes a series of mini-projects to reinforce your learning. In the first mini-project, you'll set up a simple HTML and CSS structure, then fetch text and JSON data from a server using XMLHttpRequest. You will also learn to handle and manipulate the DOM dynamically. The project culminates in making requests to third-party APIs, showcasing the power and flexibility of AJAX in real-world scenarios. Next, you'll advance to a more complex mini-project involving both PHP and Node.js servers. You'll create an input field for users to type in food items, send these items to the server, and display the server's response in the browser. This project will deepen your understanding of URL query parameters, server-side data processing, and AJAX response handling. This course is ideal for web developers, front-end engineers, and anyone interested in enhancing their web development skills. A basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is recommended. No prior knowledge of AJAX or server-side programming is required.

Syllabus

Introduction to the AJAX and Recap

In this module, we will cover the fundamentals of AJAX, starting with an introduction to the technology and its origins. We will explore the differences between traditional and AJAX requests, and learn how to write AJAX requests using both the XMLHttpRequest object and the Fetch API.

Mini-Project Recap

In this module, we will build a mini-project to consolidate our understanding of AJAX. We will start by setting up the HTML and CSS, then proceed to fetch text and JSON data using the XMLHttpRequest object. We will also explore the responseType property and refactor our requests using the Fetch API, culminating in retrieving data from third-party APIs.

Advanced Mini-Project Recap (PHP and Node.js)

In this module, we will build a dynamic web application using both PHP and Node.js servers. We will start by creating an input field that allows users to check the availability of food items, sending this data to the server, and displaying the server's response on the client side. This comprehensive project will cover setting up HTML, making AJAX requests, and handling server-side processing with PHP and Node.js.