Ajax for Applications

The latest web technique to create a big stir is Ajax, which stands for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. Ajax is a technique for creating interactive web applications. The significant advantage to using Ajax for web applications is that it allows the content on the screen to change instantly, without refreshing the whole page. This makes using the application more like a desktop program than a web page because controls react instantly, without all that pesky waiting for server calls and page redraws.
If you're beginner, you aren’t likely to be writing Ajax-based applications right off the bat, but it is useful to
be familiar with what it is and what it can do.

To learn more, I recommend searching for “Ajax” at Wikipedia.org. The Ajax listing provides a solid
explanation as well as a list of links to Ajax resources.