The XMLHttpRequest object is used to exchange data with a server behind the scenes.
The XMLHttpRequest object is a developer's dream, because you can:
To learn more about the XMLHttpRequest object, study our XML DOM tutorial.
When you type a character in the input field below, an XMLHttpRequest is sent to the server - and name suggestions are returned (from a file on the server):
Type a letter in the input box: First Name Suggestions:
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All modern browsers (IE7+, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Opera) have a built-in XMLHttpRequest object.
Syntax for creating an XMLHttpRequest object:
Old versions of Internet Explorer (IE5 and IE6) use an ActiveX Object:
In the next chapter, we will use the XMLHttpRequest object to retrieve XML information from a server.