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50 Excellent AJAX Tutorials
AJAX provides Web developers with plenty of opportunities to enhance the user experience and improve the performance of their websites. There are countless ways that AJAX can be used, and fortunately there are plenty of good and useful AJAX tutorials out there to help you with your own implementation.
This post serves as a collection of useful tutorials on working with AJAX in a wide variety of ways. You’ll find tutorials on working with forms, building shopping carts, creating chat features, working with log-ins and usernames and much more.
For more on AJAX see:
- 80+ AJAX Solutions for Professional Coding
- 60 More AJAX and JavaScript Solutions for Professional Coding
- 40+ Tooltips Scripts with AJAX, JavaScript and CSS
- Tutorials Round-Up: AJAX, CSS, PHP and More
[Offtopic: by the way, do you know the Smashing Network has its own Smashing Network RSS Feed? Only excerpts are displayed in the feed.]
Useful AJAX Tutorials
Build an AJAX-Powered Shopping Cart
NETTUTS shows us how to build an AJAX-powered shopping cart using PHP, jQuery and some plug-ins.
AJAX Username Availability Checker Using MooTools 1.2
When allowing a user to register a username, you can use AJAX with MooTools to let them check the availability of the username being submitted.
Introduction to AJAX Calls Using jQuery and PHP
If you’re not familiar with using AJAX calls with jQuery and PHP, this is a good starting point.
AJAX and XML: AJAX for Tables
IBM.com has a lot of useful articles on using AJAX. This one shows how to create tabs and tables.
AJAX and XML: AJAX for Chat
Learn how to create a simple chat box for a website.
Creating a Dynamic Poll with jQuery and PHP
This poll is created with PHP, XHTML and jQuery. AJAX effects are used to eliminate the need for a page refresh when the poll is submitted.
RSS AJAX JavaScript Ticker
This AJAX ticker may be useful for displaying news headlines or similar content to visitors.
Building Your First AJAX Application with PHP
An introductory post for getting started with AJAX.
Taking AJAX Further with PHP
Following up on the preceding introduction, this post goes a bit further.
jQuery/JavaScript – Customizable AJAX Pagination
AJAX can also be used to improve the pagination of a website.
One Form, Many Uses – Server-Side jQuery with Jaxer
AJAX can help you get more use out of one form rather than create multiple forms.
How to Call Server-Side Function from Client-Side Code Using PageMethods in ASP.NET AJAX
This post shows a work-around for calling server-side functions from the client side.
Developing Portlets Using JSF, AJAX, and Seam – Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3
An in-depth three-part series to help you create portals.
AJAX Forms with jQuery
Trevor Davis shows how to create a form that will check an email address for validity, makes sure there are no blank fields and display an error if something isn’t right or complete.
Easily Build Powerful Client-Side AJAX Paging Using jQuery
This is another useful tutorial on improving pagination with AJAX.
Use jQuery and ASP.NET AJAX to Build a Client-Side Repeater
This tutorial shows how to improve user experience and reduce server load by using a client-side repeater.
Develop AJAX Applications Like the Pros – Part 1: Using the Prototype JavaScript Library and Script.aculo.us
The first part of this three-part series includes an introduction to the Prototype JavaScript library.
Develop AJAX Applications Like the Pros – Part 2: Using the Prototype JavaScript Framework and Script.aculo.us
The second of the three parts moves on to the Scriptaculous library.
Develop AJAX Applications Like the Pros – Part 3: Use DWR, Java, and the Dojo Toolkit to Integrate Java and JavaScript
The third and final part takes you through the process of setting up a message board.
PHP Components: Autosuggest
Using PHP and AJAX, you can add an autosuggest feature to a search box.
AutoCompleter Tutorial
This tutorial produces a result similar to the preceding tutorial.
A Dynamic AJAX Table Example Using Dojo and RESTful Web Services on Glassfish
This tutorial takes you through the process of creating a dynamic table as you would see on a travel-booking website.
AJAX Overhaul – Part 1: Retro Fit Existing Sites with AJAX and jQuery
Have an existing website that needs some enhancements? This tutorial series takes you through the process.
AJAX Overhaul – Part 2: Retro Fit Existing Sites with jQuery, AJAX, Tooltips, and Lightboxes
The second part of this series takes you further through the process of improving a shopping website with tooltips and lightboxes.
AJAX Overhaul – Part 3: Retro Fit Existing Sites with jQuery, AJAX Tabs, and Photo Carousels
The third part of the series adds some nice AJAX effects with tabs and carousels.
AJAX Overhaul – Part 4: Retro Fit Existing Sites with jQuery and AJAX Forms
The final part of the series looks at enhancing the purchase form.
Auto Populating Select Boxes Using jQuery and AJAX
Learn how to allow users to choose a top-level category in a select box that will trigger the subcategory box to autopopulate.
Using AJAX to Validate Forms
Use PHP and jQuery with some AJAX to create a form that validates the data entered.
Easy AJAX with jQuery
This tutorial includes some introductory information on AJAX and jQuery and will help you get started.
Quick and Dirty AJAX (video)
This brief video tutorial shows some ways to improve the functionality of a website with jQuery and AJAX.
Load Content While Scrolling with jQuery
This tutorial creates a scrolling effect similar to DZone’s.
Wicket – Updating ListViews Using an AjaxLink
Create a table that will update without a full page refresh when a link is clicked.
AJAX for Evil: Spyjax
A look at the dark side of AJAX: viewing browsing habits.
How to Integrate Google Calendar in Your Website Using AJAX
Calendars have a great use in a number of websites.
Edit in Place with AJAX Using jQuery JavaScript Library
Allow a visitor to edit the HTML of a page they are visiting.
Creating an AJAX Rating Widget
Create a rating widget that allows visitors to rate an item with stars or some other measurement.
Use AJAX and PHP to Build Your Mailing List
Allow visitors to subscribe to a mailing list without a page refresh.
Nice AJAX Effect for Message Box Using MooTools
Use this AJAX effect to give visitors a message based on some action.
Build an AJAX Dropdown Menu
This is a fairly simple tutorial on creating a drop-down menu.
Making AJAX Work with Screen Readers
For accessibility purposes, this article covers how AJAX effects can affect users of screen readers.
How to Load In and Animate Content with jQuery
Another NETTUTS tutorial for enhancing a website with jQuery and AJAX.
Continuous Pagination
Another look at the subject of pagination by demonstrating continuous pagination, in which the user keeps scrolling down rather than going to another page.
Making Element Selection and AJAX simple with DOMAssistant
A tutorial to get you started with the DOMAssistant JavaScript library.
Slider Using PHP, AJAX, and JavaScript
Create a nice slider using PHP, JavaScript and AJAX.
ASP.NET AJAX Calendar Extender
Seven different tips and tricks for working with this calendar extender.
Log-in/Sign-up Screen Using AJAX Modal Pop-up Extender
This is a quick look at creating log-in and sign-up forms.
Dealing with Large Data in AJAX
Get your AJAX application to meet your data requirements.
Creating a Gmail-Like AJAX Status Display
Use Prototype and AJAX to create this status display.
Creating an AJAX-Enabled Calendar Control
Another tutorial that focuses on enhancing calendars with AJAX effects.
JavaScript Error Publishing using ASP.NET AJAX
Use AJAX to display errors in code.
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Steven Snell has been designing websites for several years. He actively maintains a few blogs of his own, including DesignM.ag, which regularly provides articles and resources for web designers.
- 45 Comments
- 1
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October 16th, 2008 2:04 pmThis is really great stuff! Thanks !
I always come back for this kind of posts… just like the useful javascripts you gave last month. - 3
October 16th, 2008 2:36 pmWow. That is a fantastic line up. You’ve got some really good tut’s in there. I was especially interested in the AJAX chat example and some of the jQuery stuff. I’m not a huge fan of jQuery only because I prefer to code from scratch but it definitely has its uses.
Great work as always :)
- 4
October 16th, 2008 2:53 pmJust a collection of many websites wich have collected ajax based scripts. Though, there are quote a few wich are awesome.
- 5
October 16th, 2008 2:59 pmWordpress does not have a good effect AJAX recommend?
- 6
October 16th, 2008 3:11 pmHey, great post!
It would be nice if you’d post something about AHAH/AXAH too :D
http://microformats.org/wiki/rest/ahah - 7
October 16th, 2008 3:43 pmGracias.
- 8
October 16th, 2008 4:30 pmNice collection, some I hadn’t seen that i’m defiantly going use.
- 9
October 16th, 2008 5:44 pmThank you for this useful collection :-)
- 10
October 16th, 2008 7:13 pmawwweesome!
- 11
October 16th, 2008 9:00 pmI have written an Ajax tutorial – A Gentle Introduction to Ajax. Its really useful for beginners.
- 12
October 16th, 2008 9:12 pmSmashin’ Ajax! thanx for the share and keep these kinda posts comin’
:p
- 13
October 16th, 2008 9:35 pmgreat list! the AJAX Overhaul sets would be very useful. thanks for sharing!
- 14
October 16th, 2008 11:21 pmświetne :)
- 15
October 16th, 2008 11:58 pmVery Nice Sharing.
Thanks - 16
October 17th, 2008 1:06 amI found another excellent AJAX tut in one of the links you posted..
Top 5 ASP.NET AJAX Articles You Must Read
Also love the jquery tuts..way to go!!
- 17
October 17th, 2008 1:07 amWow! Thanks a lot !
- 18
October 17th, 2008 1:17 amGreat article!
- 19
October 17th, 2008 1:21 amGroobe!
- 20
October 17th, 2008 3:51 ammaravilloso!
- 21
October 17th, 2008 5:16 amExcellent article!!!. Thanks!!!
- 22
October 17th, 2008 5:25 amGreat article!
Anybody know if there’s any tutorial to create chat application like Facebook’s ? - 23
October 17th, 2008 6:11 amThanks ! Great one. will read the full article later.
- 24
October 17th, 2008 6:48 ama lot of AJAX !!! Can i try all of this !!
- 25
October 17th, 2008 7:46 amдякую
- 26
October 17th, 2008 8:19 amsomewhere i saw the similar list…but i think that was 20 excellent ajax ???
- 27
October 17th, 2008 10:45 amThanks for including my post of slider using PHP, Ajax and Javascript….
- 28
October 17th, 2008 11:59 amGreat article, really useful!
- 29
October 17th, 2008 1:34 pmexcellent resource. some good ideas. we have long been fans of jquery, mootools and a range of other ajax components.
- 30
October 17th, 2008 4:35 pmAw, they didn’t include my tutorial that I wrote. Its on jQuery and ajax if anyone is interested: ajax tutorials with jQuery
- 31
October 17th, 2008 6:00 pmJay,
I’m not aware of a tutorial for doing that.Roshan,
You’re quite welcome. Thanks for the great tutorials. - 32
October 18th, 2008 12:54 amThanks dude.Useful tutorial.
Hope everyone makes use of this tutorial.
thanks again for this great class. - 33
October 18th, 2008 2:06 amNice list.
Good job guys.
Thanks. - 34
October 18th, 2008 5:02 amsuperb work
- 35
October 18th, 2008 12:06 pmGr8 set of articeles, worth it for millllions…..
- 36
October 20th, 2008 6:19 amMuito bom esse matérial…
Brasil Acre - 37

- 38
October 20th, 2008 9:35 amthanx a lot !
- 39
October 25th, 2008 3:01 amcool list… love it!!!
- 40
October 30th, 2008 6:37 amThanks for this very great post
- 41
November 8th, 2008 12:54 pmOnly PHP… Why there are not simple AJAX usings without marking the server-side technology..
But in general – great! - 42
November 23rd, 2008 11:11 pmAt all I do not know what to tell in this occasion. Probably, what all will be better than now? And as a whole very much even it is informative!
- 43
January 15th, 2009 11:14 pmThanks for the list. ^_^
- 44
March 19th, 2009 1:29 pmthank you great tutorial
- 45
May 6th, 2009 11:00 pmhi all,
can somebody help to create news system in flash …. like in the home page will be 2 news i need to do the admin part … the admin can edit /delete/ add new news dynamicy..is there anybody can help me with it
- 00
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(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)
so nice! thanks