Section 1.7. Summary

1.7. Summary

RIAs are modern Web applications that provide high levels of interactivity and perform similarly to native applications. RIA is made possible by a number of enabling technologies and techniques. These include JavaScript, DHTML, SVG, and AJAX.

AJAX is a JavaScript technology that provides an extra communication channel with the Web server. AJAX is one of the enabling technologies that allow the creation of RIAs, together with DHTML and other JavaScript techniques; with them, you can make powerful applications that can rival native applications.

AJAX isn't a new technology, but it's one that has taken awhile to become ready for mainstream consumption. It has been driven by the Web's constant need for innovation and by companies such as Google pushing it into the mainstream. Open source has made it possible for developers to add advanced AJAX techniques without having to develop everything themselves.