AJAX Libraries/Frameworks for Awesome Web 2.0
Happy Fav Five Friday!
What is AJAX?
AJAX is shorthand for (Asynchronous JavaScript + XML). This is a blend of technologies used to improve the user experience and can reduce web server load while increasing your network speed. This is accomplished by reducing client trips to the server and only requesting the required information instead of complete page loads.
Why use AJAX Libraries/Frameworks?
Developing Web 2.0 applications can be difficult because content can be received on multiple devices in many environments. These devices include web browsers, their versions, and the platform in which they are installed. We are a mobile culture, so we also need to understand display and behavior on mobile devices. The use of AJAX libraries and frameworks serves as an abstraction layer supporting rapid application development by reducing the need to know of the detailed behaviors in an exhastive list of devices across a multitude of platforms.
5 Great Web 2.0 AJAX Libraries/Frameworks
The Yahoo User Interface Library
When I think about “Enterprise Level” AJAX, the YUI library is the first thing on my mind. Yahoo, the grandfather of social media and enterprise level code has a proven track record that spans several years. The Yahoo User Interface Library also has an impressive set of documentation.
The YUI Library is a set of utilities and controls, written with JavaScript and CSS, for building richly interactive web applications using techniques such as DOM scripting, DHTML and AJAX. YUI is available under a BSD license and is free for all uses.
YUI is proven, scalable, fast, and robust. Built by frontend engineers at Yahoo! and contributors from around the world, it’s an industrial-strength JavaScript library for professionals who love JavaScript.
YUI Library
http://developer.yahoo.com/yui/
The jQuery JavaScript Library
jQuery is a fast and concise JavaScript Library that simplifies HTML document traversing, event handling, animating, and Ajax interactions for rapid web development. jQuery is designed to change the way that you write JavaScript.
The jQuery JavaScript Library
Dojo the Open Source JavaScript DHTML Toolkit
Dojo is an Open Source DHTML toolkit written in JavaScript. It builds on several contributed code bases (nWidgets, Burstlib, f(m)), which is why we refer to it sometimes as a “unified” toolkit. Dojo aims to solve some long-standing historical problems with DHTML which prevented mass adoption of dynamic web application development.
Dojo the Open Source JavaScript DHTML Toolkit
Prototype JavaScript Framework
Prototype features a unique, easy-to-use toolkit for class-driven development and the nicest Ajax library around, Prototype is quickly becoming the codebase of choice for web application developers everywhere.
Prototype JavaScript Framework
Script.aculo.us Web 2.0 JavaScript
script.aculo.us is a set of JavaScript libraries to enhance the user interface of web sites. It provides an visual effects engine, a drag and drop library (including sortable lists), a couple of controls (Ajax-based autocompletion, in-place editing, sliders) and more. Be sure to have a look at the demos!
Script.aculo.us Web 2.0 JavaScript
Tags: AJAX, Frameworks, Mashups, Web 2.0
