AJAX-Tips
One of the unfortunate facts about Ajax is that it can’t really be rendered in all browsers. Each browser has a different requirement not only in terms of codes but even in frameworks. If you take a look at the popular discussions, most of the coding languages that you’ll be able to see are focused on Mozilla and related browsers. XMLHttpRequest is only focused on Mozilla and this request for information is very important for client-server communication. IE requires a different language to ensure that client-server interaction is not interrupted. Since IE is undoubtedly the most popular browser, web developers have to find a way to work with it. That’s where ActiveXObject comes in. ActiveXObject refers to the constant interaction between the client and the server. Before Ajax, ActiveXObject is already implemented in some sites. Since it’s a constant interaction, ActiveXObject is deemed to be very intrusive and could be used for hacking personal information. That changed when Ajax is implemented. Since Ajax needs seamless interaction with the server, developers used ActiveXObject as the channel where they can constantly connect. Instead of using XMLHttpRequest for information, developers have changed the code so that it could activate ActiveXObejct. IE works better with this code since the creators of the browser, Microsoft Corporation, has made it a point to make ActiveXObject to work better compared to Java Applets which requires Java installation from the user. When ActiveXObject is loaded in the code, it will encounter problems. Ajax, that virtually runs in JavaScript works by giving out the information without caching them. IE on the other hand has that problem in Ajax. Even though it streams information from the server, the information that’s being sent to the client is being temporarily stored. ActiveXObject works well with IE but it also helps IE in caching information so that you can easily retrieve the temporary information. But we don’t need temporary information server since everything is already rendered directly from the server. When caching is enabled in an Ajax based program, information will pile up and eventually the website will not work. There’s actually a simple trick to do disable caching. A simple command after the ActiveXObject line usually works for very simple Ajax based websites. Complicated Ajax based websites such as online tools may need to have more than just the caching trick but the work around is always based on simple coded trick. ActiveXObject makes Ajax possible in IE. Although there are so many things needed to ensure Ajax in IE works well, it will still end up as a perfect program when they are backed up with a good code. There are specific frameworks that work well with Ajax in IE and other cross-browsers to ensure it works in all major browsers. Developers just have to be aware of the limitations and possible security risks when ActiveXObject is rendered in IE. With preparation and of course, correct rendering of the codes, ActiveXObject is a perfect remedy for developers who wants to launch Ajax in IE browsers. One of the unfortunate facts about Ajax is that it can’t really be rendered in all browsers. Each browser has a different requirement not only in terms of codes but even in frameworks. If you take a look at the popular discussions, most of the coding languages that you’ll be able to see are focused on Mozilla and related browsers. XMLHttpRequest is only focused on Mozilla and this request for information is very important for client-server communication. IE requires a different language to ensure that client-server interaction is not interrupted. Since IE is undoubtedly the most popular browser, web developers have to find a way to work with it. That’s where ActiveXObject comes in. ActiveXObject refers to the constant interaction between the client and the server. Before Ajax, ActiveXObject is already implemented in some sites. Since it’s a constant interaction, ActiveXObject is deemed to be very intrusive and could be used for hacking personal information. That changed when Ajax is implemented. Since Ajax needs seamless interaction with the server, developers used ActiveXObject as the channel where they can constantly connect. Instead of using XMLHttpRequest for information, developers have changed the code so that it could activate ActiveXObejct. IE works better with this code since the creators of the browser, Microsoft Corporation, has made it a point to make ActiveXObject to work better compared to Java Applets which requires Java installation from the user. When ActiveXObject is loaded in the code, it will encounter problems. Ajax, that virtually runs in JavaScript works by giving out the information without caching them. IE on the other hand has that problem in Ajax. Even though it streams information from the server, the information that’s being sent to the client is being temporarily stored. ActiveXObject works well with IE but it also helps IE in caching information so that you can easily retrieve the temporary information. But we don’t need temporary information server since everything is already rendered directly from the server. When caching is enabled in an Ajax based program, information will pile up and eventually the website will not work. There’s actually a simple trick to do disable caching. A simple command after the ActiveXObject line usually works for very simple Ajax based websites. Complicated Ajax based websites such as online tools may need to have more than just the caching trick but the work around is always based on simple coded trick. ActiveXObject makes Ajax possible in IE. Although there are so many things needed to ensure Ajax in IE works well, it will still end up as a perfect program when they are backed up with a good code. There are specific frameworks that work well with Ajax in IE and other cross-browsers to ensure it works in all major browsers. Developers just have to be aware of the limitations and possible security risks when ActiveXObject is rendered in IE. With preparation and of course, correct rendering of the codes, ActiveXObject is a perfect remedy for developers who wants to launch Ajax in IE browsers.
