Frequently Asked Questions

What is "AJAX Keyword Suggest"?
This is a feature that will offer suggested terms, almost instantly, as a user types into an input box. This is the same sort of technology that is offered by Google Suggest. By using our free service, you will be able to add this feature to your website without the need for custom programming.
How does it work?
There are three quick steps - (i) include our javascript source file, (ii) copy and paste some html code next to your input box and (iii) save an html file to your document root. You can then upload a list of keywords and customize the colors, width, font size and number of suggestions to display. When a user types into the input box, our custom javascript will query ajaxed.com and display suggestions in real-time on your site. Be assured that our javascript is utilized purely for the keyword suggest functionality and will not interfere or access other parts of your site.
What browsers are supported?
So far we have confirmed that AJAX Keyword Suggest works in Firefox 1.x and IE 6.0. We have not yet tested in Safari.
How do I report a bug?
To report a bug please send an email to bugs@ajaxed.com .
What language was this app developed with?
Ajaxed.com is built using Ruby on Rails.
What is AJAX?
The name is shorthand for Asynchronous JavaScript + XML, and it represents a fundamental shift in what's possible on the Web. Ajax isn't a technology. It's really several technologies, each flourishing in its own right, coming together in powerful new ways. Ajax incorporates:

  • standards-based presentation using XHTML and CSS;
  • dynamic display and interaction using the Document Object Model;
  • data interchange and manipulation using XML and XSLT;
  • asynchronous data retrieval using XMLHttpRequest;
  • and JavaScript binding everything together;
Who's Using Ajax
Google is making a huge investment in developing the Ajax approach. All of the major products Google has introduced over the last year - Orkut, Gmail, the latest beta version of Google Groups, Google Suggest, and Google Maps - are Ajax applications. Others are following suit: many of the features that people love in ListSomething.com depend on Ajax, and Amazon's A9.com search engine applies similar techniques.

These projects demonstrate that Ajax is not only technically sound, but also practical for real-world applications. This isn't another technology that only works in a laboratory. And Ajax applications can be any size, from the very simple, single-function AJAX Keyword Suggest to the very complex and sophisticated Google Maps.
Is Ajax just another name for XMLHttpRequest?
No. XMLHttpRequest is only part of the Ajax equation. XMLHttpRequest is the technical component that makes the asynchronous server communication possible; Ajax also relies on CSS, DOM, and other technologies.
Is Ajax a technology platform or is it an architectural style?
It's both. Ajax is a set of technologies being used together in a particular way.
Does Ajax have significant accessibility or browser compatibility limitations? Do Ajax applications break the back button? Is Ajax compatible with REST? Are there security considerations with Ajax development? Can Ajax applications be made to work for users who have JavaScript turned off?
The answer to all of these questions is "maybe". Many developers are already working on ways to address these concerns. We think there's more work to be done to determine all the limitations of Ajax, and we expect the Ajax development community to uncover more issues like these along the way.
Are Ajax applications easier to develop than traditional web applications?
Not necessarily. Ajax applications inevitably involve running complex JavaScript code on the client. Making that complex code efficient and bug-free is not a task to be taken lightly, and better development tools and frameworks will be needed to help us meet that challenge.