🔗 jQuery AJAX Introduction – Beginner’s Guide (2025)

Learn how to use jQuery’s AJAX methods to send and receive data without reloading the page. Includes examples, syntax, summary, and FAQs.

🚀 What is AJAX?

AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is a technique that allows web pages to communicate with servers in the background without refreshing the page. It enhances user experience by enabling dynamic, real-time content updates.

💡 Why Use jQuery for AJAX?

jQuery simplifies AJAX calls with:

• Less boilerplate code
• Cross-browser support
• Built-in error handling

Instead of writing native XMLHttpRequest, jQuery offers easy-to-use methods like $.ajax(), $.get(), and $.post().

🧱 Basic jQuery AJAX Syntax

$.ajax({
  url: "server-url",
  method: "GET", // or POST
  data: { id: 1 },
  success: function(response) {
    console.log(response);
  },
  error: function(xhr) {
    console.error("Error occurred");
  }
});

📤 Example – Fetch Data from Server

<button id="loadBtn">Load Data</button>
<div id="result"></div>

<script>
  $('#loadBtn').click(function() {
    $.ajax({
      url: "data.json",
      method: "GET",
      success: function(data) {
        $('#result').html(data.name);
      }
    });
  });
</script>

🧪 What it does: On button click, it fetches data from data.json and displays the name in the <div>.

📥 Using $.get() and $.post()

🔹 $.get() – Fetch data (GET request)

$.get("info.txt", function(data) {
  $('#result').html(data);
});

🔹 $.post() – Send data (POST request)

$.post("submit.php", { name: "John" }, function(response) {
  alert("Data Saved");
});

🔄 Chaining with .done(), .fail(), .always()

$.ajax({ url: "api/data" })
  .done(function(data) {
    console.log("Success:", data);
  })
  .fail(function() {
    alert("Error");
  })
  .always(function() {
    console.log("AJAX call completed");
  });

⚠️ Error Handling Example

$.ajax({
  url: "invalid-url",
  method: "GET",
  error: function(xhr, status, error) {
    console.log("AJAX Error: " + status + " - " + error);
  }
});

📋 Summary

✅ jQuery AJAX is a powerful way to interact with backend APIs and servers without full page reloads.

❓ FAQ – jQuery AJAX

🔹 Q1. Is jQuery AJAX outdated?

A: While Fetch API is the modern standard, jQuery AJAX is still widely used in legacy and existing projects due to its simplicity.

🔹 Q2. Can I use jQuery AJAX with JSON data?

A: Yes, use dataType: "json" in your AJAX call:

$.ajax({
  url: "user.json",
  dataType: "json",
  success: function(data) {
    console.log(data);
  }
});

🔹 Q3. How to send headers in jQuery AJAX?

A: Add a headers object:

$.ajax({
  url: "api/data",
  headers: { "Authorization": "Bearer your_token" }
});

🔹 Q4. What’s the difference between $.ajax() and $.get()?

A:

• $.ajax() = More control (method, headers, dataType, etc.)
• $.get() = Quick GET request with fewer options

🔹 Q5. How to stop an AJAX request?

A: Use .abort() on the request object:

let request = $.ajax({ url: "slow_api" });
request.abort();