Asynchronous JavaScript with XML (Ajax) can help increase the speed and usability of an application's web pages by updating only part of the page at a time, rather than requiring the entire page to be reloaded after a user-initiated change. Ajax is a powerful new technology, but it has its shortcomings. Because Ajax is new, it has very inconsistent support among browsers. Also, to develop with Ajax, you need to have considerable knowledge of JavaScript, which is out of reach for many page authors.

JavaServer Faces technology is designed to make web application development easier for page authors and developers alike. The most important feature that JavaServer Faces technology offers is its flexible and extensible component model that allows component developers to easily create their own pluggable components. At the same time, a page author can include a set of components on any of their pages using a component tag library without having to know the details of how a component works. What's more is that the modularity of the components makes them more toolable. This means a page author can just drag and drop the components onto a page using a tool such as Sun Java Studio Creator or the NetBeans IDE.

These characteristics make JavaServer Faces technology the perfect companion to Ajax functionality. Instead of requiring page authors to include JavaScript code on the page itself, component developers can encapsulate it inside the component. In this way, page authors can make use of all of the Ajax capabilities, while at the same time the complexity of the components' JavaScript is hidden from them. In addition, developers can expose the JavaScript in these JavaServer Faces-developed Ajax-capable components to enable even more powerful interactions. Furthermore, because the Ajax functionality is encapsulated in the component rather than embedded in the page, the Ajax functionality is more portable and page authors have an easier time maintaining their pages.

Web Developer Resource Center This site showcases all the hardware, software, technologies, support, and training you need for your next-generation web applications. Also visit the Web Developer Resources for Java EE page.

The JavaScript Resource Center New to JavaScript? Exploring the brave new world of Ajax? Want to learn more about how to use JavaScript on the server? You've come to the right place!

JSF Extensions This project hosts development of software that extends the capability of the JavaServer Faces (JSF) specification, including support for using Ajax and JSF.

Ajax Design Strategies This article compares and contrasts design strategies that you can use to implement the Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax) methodology to create highly responsive Web 2.0 sites.

Mashup Styles, Part 1: Server-Side Mashups This series examines some of the most common approaches, or styles, for doing mashups. Part 1 focuses on server-side mashups and discusses the major design considerations related to this mashup style. (May 2007)

Mashup Styles, Part 2: Client-Side Mashups Learn how a client-side mashup works, and explore some of the considerations related to this mashup approach. (August 2007)

Hands-On Java EE What's the best way to introduce Ajax into your legacy application? This article series guides you through Ajax implementations, starting with writing the necessary code by hand, then using an open-source toolkit, and finally implementing JavaServer Faces components.

New Technologies for Ajax and Web Application Development: Project jMaki, Project Dynamic Faces (DynaFaces), and Project Phobos Learn more about the technologies that you can use with the Java EE platform to meet the new demand for more interactive and dynamic web applications, often using Ajax.

Java Studio Creator Ajax page Find out more about Java Studio Creator and Ajax.

Jennifer Ball's Weblog Jennifer Ball is a staff writer at Sun Microsystems. She writes about web application technologies that are part of the Java EE platform.

Insider Scoop From the Tutorial Divas The Sun Java Studio Creator Tutorial writers talk about new and cool features.

Introduction to Ajax for Page Authors As a page author, you can use Ajax components—along with widgets, JavaScript technology, and other techniques—to incorporate Ajax functionality into your web applications.

Sample Components Available with Java Studio Creator Java Studio Creator offers a host of pre-built Ajax-enabled components that you can use now.

Sample Components Available from the Blueprints Catalog The Java BluePrints catalog provides an early access set of Ajax components for Java EE. These components are built using JavaServer Faces technology. Read about how to use these components in your own applications. It's easy!

Adding Ajax to JavaServer Faces Technology With Dynamic Faces Learn how to use Dynamic Faces, included in the new Sun Web Developer Pack, to add first-class Ajax support to your JavaServer Faces technology-based application.

New Technologies for Ajax and Web Application Development: Project Dynamic Faces Learn how to use Project Dynamic Faces to add Ajax functionality to web applications that use JavaServer Faces technology.

New Technologies for Ajax and Web Application Development: Project jMaki Project jMaki helps you create and reuse Ajax-enabled widgets to create interactive and dynamic web applications more effectively on the Java EE platform.

Tutorial: Including Ajax Functionality in a Custom JavaServer Faces Component For component developers who want to harness the power of Ajax in their custom JavaServer Faces components using the DOJO toolkit.

Using Default Renderers in JavaServer Faces Technology to Add Ajax Functionality to Existing Components Read about how to use JavaServer Faces technology to build a library of reusable components and make your web pages' Ajax functionality available to a large community of users.

The Ajax Blueprints Solutions Catalog The Ajax Blueprints Solutions Catalog provides guidelines, tips, and FAQs on programming with Ajax