What Is AJAX?

AJAX, short for Asynchronous javascript And XML, isn't a technology but rather a grouping of technologies. AJAX uses a communication technology (typically SOAP and XML) to send and receive an asynchronous request/response to the server, and then leverages presentation technologies (javascript, DOM, HTML, and CSS) to process the response. Applications using AJAX are legitimate today, because most browsers support the necessary technology. For a more detailed definition of AJAX, visit the AJAX Wikipedia entry.

What does AJAX really mean? It lets you execute a server-side method through a javascript call, without requiring a browser refresh. Think of it as a mini request/response that happens behind the scenes from the user. If you still aren't clear what AJAX is, take a look at two popular examples from Google: Google Suggests and Google Maps. If you are new to AJAX, the responsiveness of those two applications should make your skin tingle slightly.

AJAX是什么？

    AJAX，“异步javascript和XML”的缩写，说它是一项技术还不如说是一组技术的总和。AJAX利用通信技术（以SOAP和XML为代表）向 服务器发送和接收异步请求/响应，然后再权衡表述技术（javascript，DOM，HTML，和CSS）来处理响应。现在应用AJAX的应用程序是合 法的，因为多数浏览器都支持这项必要的技术。如果想了解AJAX的详细定义，请访问AJAX Wikipedia entry。
    AJAX到底意味着什么呢？它能让你通过javascript调用执行服务器端的方法，而不需要浏览器刷新。可以把它想象成发生在用户视线之外的迷你请求 /响应。如果你还不清楚AJAX是什么，看看Google这两个很受欢迎的例子：Google Suggests和Google Maps。如果你刚刚接触AJAX，这两个应用程序足够让你兴奋的了。

文章引用自: http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/53a5c8f50100009s